The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted a consignment of “Colorado,” a strong cannabis strain skillfully camouflaged in boxing kits imported from the United States, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to kick off the new year.
The agency stated in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, that after a week of rigorous surveillance, its officers apprehended the receiver, 38-year-old Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle, who distributes the lethal material to dealers around Lagos. This catch weighed 1.8 kilos.
The statement also stated that NDLEA agents across the country made several arrests this week. Bilkisu Suleman, a prominent supplier of ammunition to bandits, headed the list of 12 suspects captured in Kaduna. She was captured carrying 249 rounds of live ammo while on her way to deliver the lethal cargo to a bandit in Katsina.
Collaboration with the military also had results, according to the statement. Authorities in Lagos transported suspect Francis Suru and 63 bags of cannabis (weighing more than 2 tons) to the NDLEA at Bonny Camp. In December, NDLEA officers apprehended the suspect near the camp, but armed escorts attempted to hinder the operation with gunfire. Soldiers were sent in to guarantee that the suspect and narcotics were turned over to the agency.
The NDLEA’s vigilance on the roadways also paid dividends. A J5 bus traveling from Ondo to Kaduna in Niger state was halted and found to be carrying 23 bags of cannabis, leading to the arrest of two individuals. Meanwhile, on New Year’s Day, a regular patrol in Osun discovered a narcotics consignment transported by waybill from Lagos. Further inquiry led to Ibrahim Olawale’s arrest and the confiscation of a variety of narcotics, including cannabis, Loud, Colorado, and Molly.
It added: “NDLEA Commands across the 36 states and the FCT equally continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation lectures in schools, communities, work places and others. Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Nurul Huda Community Islamiyya school, Farin Yaro, Katsina; members of first aid group of Jamaatul Izalatul Bidi’a Waiqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) at Ajilari community school, Gomari, Maiduguri, Borno; WADA sensitisation lecture at the 2024 Oke Afo youth day, Olorunda LCDA Lagos and WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Gaya by the Kano state command of the Agency.”
”Commending the arrests and seizures of the past week by officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Borno, and Osun Commands, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to continue to remain vigilant and double their drug demand reduction as well as drug supply reduction efforts in the new year.”
