N4.8Billion Worth Of Illegal Drügs Recovered From Lagos Warehouse By Nigeria’s Narcotic Agency, NDLEA
Nigeria's narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it seized multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs at a warehouse in the midst of the popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba in the Ojo area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
A statement by the NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the feat was achieved on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
According to the statement, some of the substances recovered from the warehouse belonging to an alleged drug baron include "1.4 million (1,400,000) pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826kgs; 3.2 million (3,200,000) pills of codeine with gross weight of 3,360kgs; and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance, with a combined street value of N4,820,500,000 billion only”.
Babafemi stated that during the operation that lasted hours, a suspect identified as Paulinus Ojukwu, the Chief Security Officer to the wanted drug baron who parades himself as an automobile spare parts dealer, was arrested and is now assisting ongoing investigation.
He said that the latest drug warehouse bust followed the arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo, who was nabbed on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, with two million seven hundred and fifty thousand (2,750,000) pills of Tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg recovered from her residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos and a warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
The statement reads in part: "Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 18, intercepted Twenty Million US Dollar notes ($20 million) suspected to be counterfeit during a stop and search operation along Abaji - Lokoja Road, within the Federal Capital Territory. The suspected fake money was recovered from a bus coming from Lagos to Abuja, while the 53-year-old driver of the vehicle, Onyebuchi Nlededin was arrested.