The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted no fewer than 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids in the Apapa area of Lagos.

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the drugs were seized from a trio of Dauda Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar, and Ismaila Muhammed on Monday, September 22.

He added that the NDLEA operatives in Abuja, on the following day, Tuesday, September 23, arrested Opeyemi Ogundipe, 40, with 2.1kg of Colorado along the Abaji- Gwagwalada expressway.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, a suspect, Adedamola Olayeni, 56, was arrested on Monday, September 22, with 404 blocks of skunk weighing 262.6kg at the Abuja – Kaduna tollgate.

Mr Babafemi said the consignment was found in his Honda Pilot jeep marked MKA 499 TT, coming from Osogbo, Osun, and heading to Katsina State.

Also, another suspect, Zubairu Haruna, 30, was found on Wednesday, September 24, with 506 grams of methamphetamine at the Gwantu–Fadan Karshi checkpoint, Kaduna.

Mr Babafemi said a follow-up operation in Gombe State led to the arrest of the actual receiver of the consignment, Babangida Mohammed, 25.

In like manner, Mr Babafemi said commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places, and communities, among others, in the past week.

He said this includes: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of RCM Primary School 1, Igboora, Oyo; Champion International Academy, Enugu-Ezike, Enugu; Government Day Secondary School, Babban-Mutum, Katsina.

“Others are Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos, among others.

“The Kogi state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ejeh Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu in Ankpa,” he said.

Mr Babafemi quoted the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, FCT, and Ekiti commands for the arrests, seizures, and their dexterity.

Mr Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues nationwide to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

He noted that “the success of the various operations across the country underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security.

“Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security.”

(NAN)