The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said its operatives intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG with 511 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure, yesterday, in Abuja, said operatives of the agency had intercepted the tanker during a stop-and–search operation, along the Abuja-Abaji Highway, on May 1. He said the consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo State and was meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution.
Babafemi named the four suspects arrested in connection with the seizure as: Efe Mikel, 39, Ebigide Cyril, 29, Ejechi Monday, 41 and Friday Chukwudi, 39.
In another development, two suspects, Aminu Umar 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their houses at Ungwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State on April 29. Also, Bashir Umar, 35, was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano State, on May 3, with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.
In the same vein, in Osun, NDLEA operatives on May 1, arrested 51-year-old Suleiman Usman, an ex-convict, currently facing trial for another drug offence at the Federal High Court, Osogbo.
Babafemi added that at the time of his latest arrest at Okinni town, Suleiman was found in possession of 4.4grams of cocaine, 28.5kg of cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of rohypnol weighing 6.2grams and 812 pills of tramadol.
“The following day, May 2, NDLEA operatives at Agbara checkpoint, Seme border, Badagry Lagos, intercepted a Toyota Camry car marked KJA 825 FT conveying 113 jumbo parcels of cannabis with a total weight of 64kg. The driver, Charles Amoni, 45, was promptly arrested,“ he said.
Also, in Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on April 29, arrested Clement Chukwuka, 39, with 595 bottles of codeine; 38,260 pills of opioids such as tramadol, rohypnol and diazepam.
Babafemi said another suspect, Friday Ibochi, was nabbed at NDLEA check point, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue, on April 30, with 66 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg. In the same vein, a 42-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley, was arrested with 12kg of the same substance at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa.