Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 40-foot container carrying 4,959 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a highly potent strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N12.397 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The agency disclosed that the seizure followed more than four weeks of intelligence-driven surveillance before the container was finally intercepted during a joint cargo examination on Wednesday, June 23.
The operation involved officers of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, the Nigeria Customs Service, other security agencies and key stakeholders operating within the port.
According to the agency, the shipment had been placed under surveillance since April 25 after departing Toronto, Canada.
Investigators revealed that the container was transported by truck to Montreal before being moved by rail and eventually shipped through Tanger Med Port in Morocco, where it was transferred to another cargo vessel on May 23.
The consignment arrived at Tin Can Port in Lagos on June 4, was discharged the following day and later moved to Apapa Port, where it was intercepted before delivery.
In addition to the illicit drugs, the container also carried a Ford vehicle and a Nissan vehicle.
In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested a 38-year-old businesswoman, Iwebema Ogechi Peace, while she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight to Beijing, China.
The suspect was found with 7.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a specially constructed false compartment beneath her suitcase.
According to investigators, the arrest followed credible intelligence received by the agency before her departure.
The suspect reportedly claimed she regularly travelled to China to purchase goods for resale in Nigeria.
A detailed search of her luggage uncovered four professionally concealed parcels of cocaine hidden beneath the suitcase.
The agency also uncovered a criminal syndicate allegedly specialising in planting illicit drugs inside the luggage of unsuspecting passengers travelling through motor parks.
The investigation began after NDLEA officers in Abuja, working alongside operatives in Anambra State, intercepted a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi at Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory on June 20.
During the search, officers discovered 467.7 grams of methamphetamine concealed inside a black nylon bag hidden among clothes inside a sack bearing the receiver’s telephone number.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Mrs Gloria Peter, at Utako Motor Park.
Although she denied knowledge of the illicit package, investigators traced the shipment back to Nnewi, where bus loaders admitted placing the drugs inside her luggage on the instruction of the vehicle’s driver, Abdurrazak Isah.
The driver later identified another passenger, Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, as the owner of the drug consignment.
Okoye was subsequently arrested by NDLEA operatives in Abuja.
Meanwhile, operatives attached to the NDLEA Special Operations Unit arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at a motor park in Iddo, Lagos.
He was caught with 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud, another strong cannabis strain, concealed inside a shipment destined for Enugu State.
In another successful operation, officers intercepted a truck on the Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos and arrested two Beninese nationals, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside a Nigerian, Jackson ThankGod.
The suspects were transporting illicit drugs from Togo through the Benin Republic into Nigeria.
A thorough search of the truck uncovered 558,900 tablets of Tramadol 250mg hidden inside a specially fabricated compartment.
Similarly, NDLEA officers arrested Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while transporting 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods inside a truck travelling from Ebute Ero in Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State.
The agency also carried out a raid at No. 15 Olumokun Street, Amukoko, Lagos, where officers arrested Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53.
During the operation, officers recovered 28.8 kilograms of skunk.
Investigators alleged that Helen stored her illicit drug consignments with Rashidat before distributing them to customers across Lagos.
Beyond enforcement activities, NDLEA commands across the country continued implementing the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and religious centres.
The awareness campaign reached institutions including Government Girls Science Secondary School in Damaturu, Yobe State; Adesalu Primary School in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; Government Girls Secondary School, Badawa, Kano; School of Science and Islamic Studies, Ankpa, Kogi State; and Community Secondary School, Ezimo, in Enugu State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended officers of the MMIA, Special Operations Unit, Apapa, Federal Capital Territory, Anambra and Lagos commands for the successful arrests and seizures.
He praised their commitment to reducing the supply of illicit drugs while simultaneously sustaining nationwide anti-drug abuse awareness campaigns, urging them to remain resolute in the fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse.
