Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified their nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, leading to the arrest of multiple suspects, including two elderly men aged 83 and 78 in Abia and Ekiti states.
Details of the operations were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, the 83-year-old suspect was apprehended in Aba, Abia State, during a raid based on credible intelligence. Officers recovered 700 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets. The suspect reportedly told authorities he had previously worked as a shoemaker before turning to the drug trade.
In a similar operation in Ekiti State, a 78-year-old man was arrested at his residence, where about 350 grams of skunk were allegedly recovered.
The crackdown extended to Oyo State, where two women were arrested in connection with the seizure of nearly two kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. One suspect was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while the second was arrested in a follow-up operation in Ibadan.
Also in Ibadan, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects after months of evading arrest, recovering over 3 kilograms of skunk and a vehicle. Authorities noted that two of their alleged accomplices had earlier been arrested and are currently facing prosecution.
In Osun State, a 65-year-old driver was arrested along a major highway with a carton containing several kilograms of skunk and a quantity of methamphetamine. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the drugs.
Further arrests were recorded in Borno State, where large quantities of Tramadol were recovered from multiple suspects, including a driver and individuals linked to distribution networks.
In Kaduna State, operatives intercepted a significant consignment of cannabis along the Abuja-Jos highway, while in Jigawa State, thousands of capsules of Tramadol were recovered from suspects arrested in Hadejia.
Meanwhile, in Lagos State, a raid at a market in Mushin led to the recovery of a large quantity of skunk, while in Edo State, another suspect was arrested with a mix of illicit substances, including synthetic drugs and opioids.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which continues to be implemented across schools, communities, workplaces, and religious centres nationwide.
Reacting to the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers for their dedication and urged them to sustain the current momentum in both enforcement and public awareness efforts.
