The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted two containers of cannabis indica, popularly known as Loud, shipped from Thailand at the Apapa and Lekki ports, with a combined street value of over N4.4 billion.
This marks the Agency’s first-ever seizure of illicit drugs imported from Thailand through the maritime corridor, signaling a new trafficking route being exploited by drug syndicates.
The seizures were contained in a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
Thailand-Loud Intercepted at Apapa and Lekki
“At Apapa Port, a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries was found during a joint examination on Friday, August 21, to contain 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud.
The drugs were packed in 54 cartons comprising 2,181 sachets of 500 grams each,” the NDLEA said.
At Lekki Deep Sea Port, a similar container placed on NDLEA’s watchlist was jointly examined on Wednesday, August 19. Of seven pallets found wrapped in black nylon, four contained Thai Loud, yielding 96 cartons with 400 parcels weighing 400kg. The remaining three pallets held 798 rims of A4 paper used as cover.
Both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, according to the NDLEA.
Other major busts across states
In the FCT, operatives on Saturday, August 22 intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 tramadol pills inside a hummer bus traveling from Enugu to Zuba. A follow-up operation in Kontagora, Niger State, led to the arrest of the owner, Sunday Eze, 28.
In Ondo State, NDLEA on Wednesday, August 19 raided a cannabis farm at Ijare Forest, Ifedore LGA, destroying 10,000kg of skunk cultivated on four hectares. Same day at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North LGA, 210kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry with registration AGL 223 JH were recovered. The owner, Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, is at large.
In Kwara, a Toyota Starlet without registration was intercepted along the Ogbomosho-Ilorin expressway on August 21. Operatives recovered 1.325kg of methamphetamine and quantities of cannabis. Suspect Muhammadu Usman, 22, was arrested.
In Oyo, a 65-year-old woman, Adebayo Kaosarat, was arrested at Akobo-Ojuirin, Ibadan on August 21 with 4.68kg of drugs including 1.795kg of Scottish Loud, 1.66kg of tramadol, and codeine syrup.
In Kano, Chibuzor Madueke, 31, was arrested at Hadeija Road on August 17 with 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg.
At Seme border, Lagos, three family members — Nasiru Tijjani, 52; Moshood Tijjani, 27; and Salami Tijjani, 27 — were arrested at Ashipa area with 48kg of skunk.
In Abia, Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno, 36, was arrested at Umuobia Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA on August 20. Recovered from his residence were 14.4kg of Loud, 2.3kg of Colorado, 386g of tramadol and 134g of rohypnol.
WADA Sensitization Continues
As part of its War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, NDLEA carried out sensitization in schools, worship centers and communities across Kano, Oyo, Kebbi, Taraba and Edo states. The Idiroko Special Area Command also paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman of Ipokia LGA, Ogun State.
Commending the Commands involved, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) urged officers to sustain the Agency’s “balanced approach” to drug control.
Want me to also draft 3 headline options + a 100-word social media version of this for you?
