By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered a Lekki mansion allegedly used as a major drug stash house, recovering 2,326 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of imported cannabis valued at over N5.8 billion.
Director of Media and Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit raided the mansion located at No. 36 African Lane, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, on Friday, May 8.
He stated that the operation led to the recovery of 4,000 parcels of Loud weighing 2,326kg, with an estimated street value of N5,815,000,000.
According to him, two Mercedes-Benz buses and several designer sachets used for packaging the illicit substance for retail distribution were also seized from the property.
Babafemi said the raid formed part of intensified operations by the anti-narcotics agency against drug cartels and distribution networks across the country.
He further disclosed that NDLEA operatives in Nasarawa State arrested a 38-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Osita Okeke, with 129 kilograms of skunk at Nyanya Karu on Monday, May 4.
In another operation, Babafemi said officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State intercepted a white commuter J5 bus heading to Abuja on Friday, May 8.
He stated that a search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 76 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 766 kilograms.
The NDLEA spokesman added that three suspects identified as Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond and Babangida Musa were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Babafemi also revealed that operatives raided a makeshift skuchies production factory at Ijora Badia area of Lagos on Wednesday, May 6.
He said two suspects, Bose Jamiu and Gbenga Gege, were arrested while allegedly cooking cannabis and mixing it with other illicit substances.
According to him, operatives recovered 270 litres of already produced skuchies and 106 grams of Tramadol 225mg from the factory.
Babafemi noted that the agency’s commands and formations across the country also intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
He listed some of the sensitisation activities to include enlightenment lectures at Ta’al Model Secondary School, Lafia, Nasarawa State; Federal College of Education, Ilawe Ekiti; traditional rulers in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State; Adventist Secondary Technical College, Owerrinta in Abia State; Golden Anchor Secondary School, Shomolu, Lagos; and Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
Babafemi said the nationwide operations and sensitisation programmes underscored the agency’s commitment to reducing drug supply and combating substance abuse across Nigeria.
