NDLEA Seizes Cocaine, Opioids Hidden in Shoe Soles

NDLEA seizes cocaine and opioids concealed in shoe soles bound for the US and Europe, disrupting a major drug trafficking operation.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recently seized substantial amounts of cocaine and opioids that were hidden in shoe soles, clothing, and other items. These items were intended for shipment to the United States, United Kingdom, and Cyprus.

The Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) of the NDLEA discovered over 250 grams of cocaine concealed in custom-made shoe soles that were meant for Cyprus.

In addition to the cocaine, more than five kilograms of opioids, such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection, were found hidden in clothes and household items that were supposed to be shipped to the US and UK through courier firms in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA, revealed that a consignment of 440 grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis from Canada, was also intercepted. This was destined for Lagos via a logistic company.

Furthermore, separate operations in Edo State led to the interception of a vehicle at Ewu junction, Esan Central LGA, on July 10th, 2024. The vehicle, belonging to Aminu Abdullahi, aged 32, was found to contain 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in custard containers filled with powder. Abdullahi confessed that the drugs were purchased in Onitsha, Anambra State, and were intended for sale in Mararaba, Abuja.

Another operation in the Ohen forest in Abudu, Edo State, on July 11th, resulted in the destruction of 5,429.751kg of cannabis cultivated on 2.918 hectares of farmland. Four suspects were apprehended: Godday Ariye, aged 37; Friday Okafor, aged 59; Obinna Nwosu, aged 48; and Yusuf Adamu, aged 27.

Additionally, NDLEA officers recovered 300 kilograms of cannabis from the Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West LGA during a raid on July 13th.

In Ogun State, a total of 2,865 kilograms of cannabis was confiscated at Afami Ibese on July 9th, while the alleged owner, Umar Ibese, is still evading authorities. Meanwhile, in Borno State, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, recovered 2,455 kilograms of materials used for producing Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance (NPS), from a warehouse in Konduga town on July 9th.

The next day, in Katsina State, operatives apprehended a 54-year-old man named Sabo Sule with 47 kilograms of cannabis in Katsina town. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on a warehouse in VGC, Lekki, on July 8th, where they confiscated 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, along with 108 cartons of fast gas cylinders, 134 pieces of balloons, and 109 cartons of infusion chargers. Suliyat Abdulsalam, a female suspect, was arrested in connection with the seizure.