The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 34,520 tramadol capsules, dismantled a drug laboratory, and recovered 148.3 kilogrammes of Colorado in various operations.

A statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja said the drugs were concealed in different compartments of a Toyota Corolla car marked GAN 102 AR.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were intercepted along the Zaki-Biam/ Wukari road in Benue on Monday, November 3, while the driver was arrested.

He said the opioids were loaded from Onitsha, Anambra, and were heading to Cameroon.

“In another operation in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Thursday, November 6, arrested another suspect, with 15,020 capsules of tramadol at Kasuwabera ATC in Ardo Kola LGA.

“In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway on Wednesday, November 5, intercepted a consignment of 7.600kg Loud, a strong strain of cannabis.

“A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of the owner, while no fewer than 175,000 pills of opioids were recovered from another consignment at the location the same day,” he said.

Mr Babafemi said three suspects were on Wednesday, November 5, nabbed at Abuja/Kaduna tollgate with 769kg skunk being conveyed in a truck marked TRE 897 BE, coming from Lagos en route Owo, Ondo, and heading to Kano.

He said another suspect, a grandpa, was arrested on Friday, November 7, in a cannabis plantation at Igbeshi forest, Imiakebo, Etsako East LGA, Edo.

He said, “1,459.75kg skunk was destroyed and 5.6kg of the same substance evacuated, while a 70-year-old grandma was also nabbed at Onopa, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state with 5kg skunk on Tuesday, November 4, ” he said.

According to Mr Babafemi, with the same vigour, the Agency’s commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.

“These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Transfiguration Seminary Secondary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; Day Secondary School, Sabonkasuwa, Kontagora, Niger state.

“Others are Immanuel College High School (Snr), Ibadan, Oyo State; Government Girls Secondary School, Ilelah, Sokoto; Government Day Secondary School, Namtari, Adamawa and NURTW leaders and members in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State,” Mr Babafemi said.

Reacting to the seizures and arrests, the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa commended the officers and men of Edo, Taraba, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, and Bayelsa commands for the various successful operations.

Mr Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the agency’s ongoing balanced approach to drug control efforts.

(NAN)