By Bako Christopher
Abuja, Nigeria — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted two containers of synthetic cannabis known as “Loud” worth over N4.4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos, marking the first seizure of drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor.
At Apapa Port on Friday, 21st August, a joint examination by NDLEA, Customs and other agencies found 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud packed in 54 cartons, hidden in a container declared to be carrying dry fish, rice, spare parts and inverter batteries.
In a statement on Sunday, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said that at Lekki Deep Sea Port on Wednesday, 19th August, operatives discovered 400kg of Thai Loud in 96 cartons concealed inside 4 of 7 pallets. The remaining pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper used as cover.
Both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, signalling a new trafficking route being exploited by syndicates.
In other operations between 15th and 22nd August, Akwa Ibom: A wooden boat bound for Cameroon was intercepted. 3 suspects arrested with 42.622kg of skunk and 20g of cocaine concealed in edible cassava fufu.
In FCT: 24,410 pills of tramadol intercepted in a Hummer bus from Enugu. Owner arrested in Kontagora, Niger State, while Ondo: 10,000kg of skunk cultivated on 4 hectares destroyed. Additional 210kg and a Toyota Camry recovered in Akure North.
Kwara: 1.325kg of methamphetamine recovered along Ogbomosho-Ilorin expressway. One suspect was arrested.
Oyo: 65-year-old Adebayo Kaosarat arrested in Ibadan with 4.68kg of Scottish Loud, tramadol, codeine, diazepam and flunitrazepam.
Kano: 73.3kg of skunk seized, one suspect arrested on Hadejia Road.
Seme, Lagos: Three family members arrested near Seme border with 48kg of skunk.
Abia: 14.4kg Loud, 2.3kg Colorado and tramadol recovered from a residence in Umuahia South.
The Agency also intensified WADA sensitisation in schools, worship centres and communities across Kano, Oyo, Kebbi, Taraba and Edo States.
Commending the Commands, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) urged officers to sustain the balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction.
