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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ramped up efforts against drug trafficking by conducting raids at a hotel in Lagos, confiscating international shipments hidden in food products, and capturing a notorious drug lord.
During one operation, 60-year-old Okpara Chigozie, a key figure in a drug cartel who had been on the run since 2019, was arrested.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced on Sunday that operatives apprehended him at his hideout on Michael Ojo Street in Isheri, Ojo, Lagos, after stopping a white Toyota Sienna van carrying illicit goods.
The vehicle, en route to Onitsha in Anambra State, was intercepted at Ilasamaja on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway around 5:45 AM on Sunday, July 13.
Babafemi revealed that the NDLEA's special operations unit arrested Chigozie, bringing an end to seven years of his evasion from law enforcement, as he was caught attempting to transport significant amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine to various regions.
Following the interception of his consignments, additional searches with sniffer dogs led to the discovery of 7.6 kg of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine concealed within the vehicle. The driver, 51-year-old Achebe Nnamdi, was also taken into custody.
In a subsequent operation at Chigozie's hideout in Isheri, authorities recovered more drugs, including 1.8 kg of cocaine and 1.3 kg of methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with Aviation Security, seized 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger named Omoregie Uyiosa, who admitted his intention to sell the drugs in Italy.
Also, in another airport operation, NDLEA agents intercepted 17 parcels of skunk, a cannabis strain weighing 1.70 kg, hidden inside packs of the popular cereal Golden Morn, meant for shipment to Pakistan. The individual who attempted the shipment, Chioba Robert Uchenna, was arrested.
In further developments, NDLEA operatives raided the Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road, Kosofe, where they found "party drugs" being distributed.
Following surveillance linked to suspect Obayemi Oyetade, officers seized drugs from his room, including 1.3 kg of chocolate cannabis and 900 grams of cannabis-infused gummies, alongside three vehicles. Three other suspects were arrested in Kaduna State with substantial amounts of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain.
Separately, in Kano, a man named Lawan Rabiu was detained with 36,000 tramadol pills. Additionally, NDLEA recovered 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from suspect Aliyu Abubakar in Gombe, while two others were apprehended with 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29 kg.
On July 19, officers on patrol in Borno seized 74,360 opioid pills from a Mercedes Benz C180 car and arrested Audu Modu. In Bayelsa State, 63-year-old Akuna Nelson was arrested with 163 liters of skuchies.
Furthermore, in Kogi State, four suspects were arrested in connection to a methamphetamine seizure, and in Abia State, notorious dealer Nduka Obi was captured at his base with various drugs and cash.
