NDLEA uncovers illicit drug consignments in water purifier machines from Europe

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said its operatives have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed in water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.

This was made known in statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, saying the seizure was made at a courier company in Lagos on May 26.

The agency said the consignment contained three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy, carefully hidden inside the water purifier machines.

In Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, alongside another suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, 38, after recovering 100 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 1,246 kilograms from their residence in the Gonin Gora area on May 24.

On the same day, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway at Jere intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, allegedly transporting 380 rounds of 7.62mm military-grade ammunition to Katsina State. The suspect and the ammunition were subsequently handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

In Niger State, operatives acting on intelligence raided a warehouse in Gidan Kukah, Bosso Local Government Area, on May 27, where they recovered 457 kilograms of skunk. 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 on May 28 intercepted a commercial vehicle heading to Taraba State. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine and 200 grams of bromazepam. A suspect, James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across the country, conducting awareness programmes in schools and communities, including 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.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations in Kaduna, Niger and Enugu states, as well as personnel of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa urged operatives across the country to sustain efforts aimed at reducing drug supply while continuing public sensitisation against drug abuse.