The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted three major illicit drug syndicates that led to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins in Lagos State.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday said multi-billion naira worth of cocaine, opioids and loud was recovered from their hideouts.

Mr Babafemi said a female head of one of the syndicates, Faith Nwankwo, was arrested on Wednesday, August 9, at her residence, House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos.

He said this shortly after she returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432, Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV.

Mr Babafemi said a search of her residence and the warehouse led to the recovery of 2,750,000 pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg, packed in 39 cartons weighing 1,916 kilogrammes.

He said the drugs and the SUV were recovered, while the suspect was taken into custody.

In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicates involved in the importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing of cocaine and Canadian loud, NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 4, tracked the drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in the Lekki- Ajah area of Lagos.

Mr Babafemi said a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian loud for distribution by the duo of Urama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.

He said a follow-up operation at the residence of Mr Chinemelum at House 7, Road 7, Lagra Estate, Eti-Osa, Lagos, led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of loud, weighing 18.5kg.

According to him, the following day, Saturday, August 5, operatives of the special unit went after another syndicate involved in the importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride.

”This is a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine and this came following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilogrammes of the substance.

“Two members of the syndicate: Udeh Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Uzozie, 50, were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos, where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the South-East.

“A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of Three Thousand ($3,000) US Dollars found on Udeh Ogbonna,” he said.

(NAN)