The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate and recovered multimillion-naira worth of tramadol pills.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the four suspects detained following intelligence-led operations in Onitsha, Anambra, and Keffi in Nasarawa State would be prosecuted after the investigation.

Mr Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in the bumper and false bottom of two Sienna buses heading to border towns.

He said the arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance operations by the NDLEA’s Directorate of Intelligence operatives.

Mr Babafemi explained that a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted on the Nasarawa-Toto road, Keffi, Nasarawa State, on January 27 at about 6:00 a.m.

He disclosed that two suspects were also arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, en route to Yola, Adamawa State.

The NDLEA spokesperson noted that a second Sienna bus was also intercepted, adding that during a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumpers.

“This was where a total of 190,960 pills of tramadol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.

“Investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra state-based dealer, was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment,” Mr Babafemi said.

He said a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the supplier at his Uga Street, Onitsha, home on January 29.

“Two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF, and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house,” he said.

“In another interdiction, operatives of the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra, at Abaji checkpoint, FCT Abuja on February 4,” Mr Babafemi said.

He said a 32-year-old male passenger in the bus, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag, was arrested.

“When his bag was searched, 40,447 grams of methamphetamine and 506.49 grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, were recovered.

“Also, 262.32 grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, concealed in the motor parts, was recovered,” he said.

(NAN