NDLEA Busts Drug Smuggling Ring, Recovers Narcotics Hidden in Water Purifiers, Seizes Ammunition in Kaduna
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed inside imported water purifier machines and recovered military-grade ammunition during separate operations in Kaduna State.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, NDLEA operatives uncovered three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, hidden inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos. The illicit consignment was intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on May 26.
In Kaduna State, NDLEA officers arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside a third suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, following the recovery of 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms. The drugs were discovered at their residence in the Gonin Gora area of the state on May 24.
The agency also reported that officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway near Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, who was allegedly conveying 380 rounds of military-grade 7.62mm ammunition to Katsina State.
Babafemi said the suspect and the recovered ammunition had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and necessary action.
In a separate operation in Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk on May 27. A suspect, Godwin Zakka, 46, was later arrested at his residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna in connection with the seizure.
Similarly, in Enugu State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway intercepted a commercial vehicle travelling to Taraba State. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tablets of tramadol, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam.
The driver, identified as James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested in connection with the illicit drugs.
Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.
Awareness programmes were conducted at Government Secondary School, Adiabo in Cross River State; St. Patrick’s Memorial College, Wukari in Taraba State; Roman Catholic Mission Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State; and Kings Secondary School, Amawbia in Anambra State, among other locations.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers of the Kaduna, Niger and Enugu Commands, as well as the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), for the successful operations.
He urged personnel to sustain efforts aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks while strengthening public awareness campaigns to curb substance abuse across the country.
