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NDLEA Intercepts N2.1bn Worth Of Codeine Syrup, ‘Loud’ Consignments

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A 70-year-old grandfather has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 57.2kg of cannabis in Nasarawa State.

Also arrested were two suspects with 426kg of cannabis in Ekiti State, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

This is as the anti-narcotics agency seized codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain worth over N2.1 billion at the Port Harcourt seaports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

“Large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over N2.1bn in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,” the statement read.

Some of the hard drugs intercepted by NDLEA operatives.

“At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“The consignment estimated to be worth N960m which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.”


See the full statement below:

Codeine syrup, Loud consignments worth over N2.1billion intercepted at Lagos, P/H ports

. As NDLEA arrests 70-year-old grandpa, Nigerien, 3 others in Ekiti forest, FCT, Nasarawa, Katsina raids

Large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over Two Billion One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Naira (N2,185,000,000.00) in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria. During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of Six Million Naira.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives on Monday 27th May intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu. During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered.

In Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway on Friday 31st May while travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa state. In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa state on Wednesday 29th May nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather,

Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.

Two suspects: Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti in Ekiti state where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000kg of same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday 30th May.

In Katsina state,76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria – Malumfashi road on Wednesday 29th May.

In the same vein, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others with equal vigour in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka, Anambra state; students and teachers of All Saints Church School, Jericho Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Western Marine College, Ajido, Badagry, Lagos and students of Government Girls Secondary School, Buden Gari, Bichi, Kano state

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have in no small measure reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigerian communities. He charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.



Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Sunday 2nd June 2024

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Crime

Herbalist Hospitalized After Failed ‘Bulletproof’ Charm Test

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In a bizarre incident in Kuchibuyi Village which occurred on 23rd November at Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a local herbalist sustained severe injuries after attempting to test the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm by shooting himself in the stomach with a locally fabricated gun.

The herbalist, identified as Ismail Usman, reportedly carried out the dangerous experiment to demonstrate the protective powers of the charm. However, the charm failed to work, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Following a distress call from a resident, Shandam Michael, a police team from the Byazhin Division arrived promptly at the scene. The injured man was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further medical care.

A subsequent search of Usman’s residence led to the recovery of the locally made firearm and a collection of charms believed to have been involved in the incident.

The FCT Police Command has confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will face charges for attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

Olatunji Disu, FCT Commissioner of Police, condemned the incident, highlighting the dangers associated with illegal firearms. “This situation illustrates the serious risks of engaging in reckless behaviour. We strongly advise the community to avoid such dangerous practices.”

SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, stressed the importance of community vigilance. “It’s crucial for residents to look out for one another and report any suspicious activities.”

As investigations continue, the police remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

This incident highlights the dangers of superstitious practices and underscores the importance of seeking scientifically proven methods to address safety concerns.

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NDLEA Arrests 80-Year-Old Grandpa For Drugs, Intercepts 14.9bn Opioids

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says its operatives have arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Aremu Shojobi, with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The Agency said that Shojobi confessed to selling illicit drugs for the past 25 years.

In a statement by it spokesperson on Sunday, the NDLEA said Shojobi further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin republic, and sells to his customers from his residence between 7am and 10pm every day.

“Operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command of the Agency on Friday 20th September arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Pa Aremu Shojobi with 14 kilograms of cannabis at his home in Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

“In his statement, the Octogenarian claimed he has been in the business of selling illicit drugs for 25 years. He further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin republic, and sells to his customers from his residence between 7am and 10pm every day,” Babafemi said.

The NDLEA spokesperson also disclosed that a total of 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol, and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered at the Tincan port complex in Lagos.

He added that the seizures were made on 17th and 20th September 2024, from three containers that had been on the agency’s watchlist following processed intelligence.

“As a result, the NDLEA had requested for 100% joint examination of the shipments with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. The 25 million pills of tapentadol have an estimated street value of Thirteen Billion Seven Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N13,725,000,000.00) while the codeine consignment has an estimated street value of Two Billion Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N2,450,000,000.00), bringing the total value of the seizures to Fourteen Billion Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N14,950,000,000.00).”

“The tapentadol consignment packed in 500 cartons was discovered in one of the containers on Tuesday 17th September while another container examined same day contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container containing 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine was examined on Friday 20th September,” he added.

The NDLEA statement further said, “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Wednesday 18th September raided the two homes of a community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West LCDA, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, where a total of 226kg of cannabis was recovered from his two wives and son.

“Though Alhaji Talba is currently at large, a search of his house in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry led to the recovery of 93 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 57.6kg from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, 35, and son, Sadat Bashiru, 22, while another search of his house at Aketegbo area of Seme Badagry led to the seizure of 302 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 168.6kg from his second wife Hauwa Bashir, 42.

“No less than 720 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 390kg were also recovered from a Mitsubishi delivery van marked MUS 720 XH at Ojo area of Lagos on Monday 16th September.

“At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 15th September arrested a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha with 76 wraps of cocaine in his stomach. After three days in excretion observation, Okafor excreted the 76 pellets of the ingested cocaine weighing 1.267kg.

“In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 17th September recovered 700,000 pills of exol-5 coming from Lagos for distribution in Kano and Kaduna, while a suspect Udemefuna Chibuike, 23, was arrested by operatives on Friday 20th September along Mokwa-Jebba road, Niger state, in possession of 49,000 tablets of tramadol, 20,000 tablets of diazepam, 100 ampoules of tramadol injection and 50 bottles of cough syrup with codeine.

“A total of 451 blocks of cannabis weighing 213kg were intercepted along Azikiwe road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday 18th September, by NDLEA officers who apprehended a suspect Ogochukwu Paul, 33, conveying the consignment to a notorious drug haven in Borikiri.

“While operatives in Plateau state on Friday 20th September arrested a wanted suspect Jonathan Ali Abuttur, 46, at Agingi- Rukuba road Bassa LGA in possession of 808kg of cannabis sativa concealed in 68 bags of sugar and fertilizer, their counterparts in Kwara also nabbed Shaibu Musa with 28kg of the same psychoactive substance.

“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Rayhaan Model Academy, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state; Government Day Secondary School, Danrimi, Malumfashi LGA,Katsina state; Technical College, Ihe-Achi, Oji River LGA, Enugu state; Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state; fresh students of Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele Ibadan, Oyo state; traders at Agboju market, Festac town, Lagos and the palace of Oloola of Ilara, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Lawal Oyede and his chiefs, at Ilara, Ogun state, among others.

“While commending the officers and men of Tincan, MAKIA, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Kogi, Edo and Kwara Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”

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Iheanacho Fighting Hard To Be Fit For New Season

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Kelechi Iheanacho is hoping to be fully fit for the kick-off of the new La Liga season.


Iheanacho joined Spanish club, Sevilla on a two-year contract on Wednesday.

The Nigeria international left Premier League Club, Leicester City following the expiration of his contract in June.


The forward, who has been inactive all summer, is now expected to start pre-season training with Sevilla.

The 27-year-old admitted he is not yet 100% fit.

“I have had the chance to do personal training with a coach. That helps my fitness as well. I’m not far off from where they are 100%, so I’m not far off. Hopefully, I’ll join them soon and then build the rest of my fitness with them,” he said in an interview on the official website of Sevilla.


“Hopefully, I’ll be ready to play the first game.”

Sevilla will face Las Palmas in their opening fixture of the new season.

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