The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered no fewer than 722,875 pills of opioids in Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna states, respectively.

NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that NDLEA operatives in Borno state on Saturday, July 12, arrested a man with 18,759 ampoules of pentazocine, pills of tramadol and rohypnol in Njimtilo, Maiduguri.

Mr Babafemi said this came on the heels of the seizure of 10,000 pills of tramadol from another suspect on Wednesday, July 9.

He added that their counterparts in Gombe State also recovered 116,226 pills of tramadol and D-5 from five suspects at Gombe main market and along Gombe-Kano road on Tuesday, July 8, and Saturday, July 12.

“A suspect was on Thursday, July 10, arrested along the Okene-Lokoja expressway in Kogi state while conveying 316.600kg of skunk.

“Another suspect was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 58.805kg of the same substance in Gubuchi area of Ikara LGA, Kaduna state,” he said.

In the same vein, in Taraba State, three suspects were arrested on Saturday, July 12, by NDLEA officers at Lanka Viri checkpoint.

Mr Babafemi said they were arrested while conveying 577,890 pills of opioids and 1.160kg of skunk concealed in the tyre compartment of a petrol tanker marked MUB 334 YH.

“The arrest of the trio on Tuesday, July 8, followed credible intelligence.

“Three other suspects were nabbed with 48.1kg skunk at Janguza barracks area of Kano state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, July 9,” he said.

Mr Babafemi quoted the NDLEA chairman, retired  Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of Taraba, Kano, Kogi, Gombe, Borno, and Kaduna Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week.

Mr Marwa equally praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

(NAN)