NDLEA intercepts 122,900 tramadol pills, other in three states

Mr Babafemi added that 13,800 tramadol pills abandoned by a suspect going to Geidam in Yobe were also recovered at Yankaba Park, Kano, on June 14.

News Agency of Nigeria • June 18, 2023

Tramadol used to illustrate the story

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted no fewer than 122,900 tramadol pills and Exol-5 in Bauchi, Kano and Benue States.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that 87,000 tramadol pills were recovered from a suspect, Tony Ogbonna, 40, in the Yelwa area of Bauchi, on Saturday.

Mr Babafemi added that 13,800 tramadol pills abandoned by a suspect going to Geidam in Yobe were also recovered at Yankaba Park, Kano, on June 14.

He said on the same day in Benue, a suspect, Chidera Gabriel, was arrested with 22,100 pills of the same pharmaceutical opioid at an NDLEA checkpoint in Vandeikya.

The NDLEA spokesperson disclosed that officers of the agency in Kaduna arrested a female pharmacist, Ikwebe Ori.

Mr Babafemi said the arrest followed her attempt to use forged documents to purchase and distribute six cartons of pentazocine injection with 2,000 ampules.

“She confessed she used fake documents of a Kaduna hospital to order the drug, which she planned to distribute in Kaduna, Abuja and Sokoto.

“The consignment was initially intercepted at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, while being sent to Kaduna by a freight agent,” he said.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Niger have seized 1,072 kilogrammes of cannabis in two raids.

Mr Babafemi said 726kg of the illicit substance was recovered at Oyoyo filling station along Kaduna – Abuja express road on Thursday, June 15.

“Four suspects: Aminu Mohammed, 50; Nasiru Mohammed, 30; Rabiu Haruna, 29; and Hamza Abubakar, 18, were arrested.”

According to him, on June 16, operatives intercepted a Mercedes 1422 truck marked MKD 116 ZM on its way from Umunede, Delta, with gallons of palm oil to be delivered at Garki market in Abuja.

“However, the truck driver, Jekwe Udenze, 38, along with his two assistants: Gabriel Nzekwube, 43, and Chima Uzoma, 42, stopped over at Uromi, Edo.

“They loaded 19 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 346kg, to be delivered at Dumez Luxury Park along Kaduna road, Suleja, to one Ignatius Mokwe, 47.

“Both the driver and his two assistants, as well as the owner of the illicit consignment, Ignatius Mokwe, have been arrested,” he said.

(NAN)

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