The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) continues its aggressive fight against illegal drug cultivation and trafficking across Nigeria, with a significant bust in Osun State and numerous arrests and seizures nationwide.
According to a press release issued Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, operatives destroyed a staggering 24,175 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 9.67 hectares of cannabis farmland located in the Ikaka area of the Oke-Ila forest, Osun State. The operation, carried out on July 3, led to the arrest of seven suspects who were allegedly involved in the illegal cannabis operation.
Nationwide Operations Yield Major Drug Seizures
In addition to the Osun raid, NDLEA reported multiple drug seizures across several states, further highlighting the widespread nature of drug trafficking in Nigeria.
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In Borno State, NDLEA officers recovered 167 kilograms of skunk at Gamboru-Ngala, a town near the Cameroonian border, which is often a known drug transit route.
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In Kano State, 452 kilograms of skunk were intercepted at Gadar Tamburawa, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
Meanwhile, NDLEA patrol units on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway recovered 11,000 pills of 225mg Tramadol from a suspect, a drug frequently abused for its potent opioid effects.
In Sokoto, a 62-year-old suspect was taken into custody with 4,800 Tramadol pills, further proving that prescription drug abuse remains a major issue.
The NDLEA also reported:
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In Kebbi State, 312 kg of skunk and 10,000 tablets of diazepam were seized during a raid at Bakin Kasuwa Yauri base.
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In Taraba State, two individuals were caught with 49,930 Tramadol capsules.
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In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Ewere forest in Owan West, arresting Alaba Monday, 49, a wanted suspect, and seizing 115 kg of processed skunk. Three additional suspects were arrested on a nearby 2-hectare cannabis farm.
Notably, in Cross River State, a 78-year-old suspect was arrested with 14.49 kg of skunk and Tramadol during a raid in Ofudua, Obubra LGA. Three more suspects were also detained in Ovonum, another area within Obubra.
A Nationwide Crackdown
These operations underline the NDLEA’s continued nationwide crackdown on illegal drug activities. With large-scale farm destructions, high-volume seizures, and arrests of suspects ranging from teenagers to elderly individuals, the agency is sending a strong message: drug cultivation and trafficking will not be tolerated in Nigeria.
