An Indian businessman, Gupta Ravi Kumar, and three of his Nigerian accomplices, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on allegations of drug trafficking in connection with the seizure of over two million pills of tramadol intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

The tramadol shipment, containing 2,248,000 pills valued at N3.99 billion, was disguised as multivitamins in 114 cartons and imported from Delhi, India, arriving on September 8.

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said officers monitored the consignment and intercepted a clearing agent and two drivers attempting to move the shipment on September 11. Gupta was later arrested when he sought to take delivery of the consignment.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CCEO) of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd), said, “This is one of the largest tramadol seizures we have made. The shipment underscores the ongoing threat posed by drug traffickers.”

In another raid, the NDLEA on September 7, intercepted one Onyeganochi Stanley Ifeanyi at the airport after he was found with 900 grams of skunk concealed in crayfish.

He was said to have been given the bag of crayfish by a Qatar-based Nigerian, identified as Ohadiegwu Anthony Uchenna.

Uchenna was also arrested following Onyeganochi’s confession, and additional drugs were found in his hotel room.

At Tincan Port, the NDLEA recovered 161 parcels of Canadian Loud cannabis weighing 81.7kg and 1.2kg of hashish oil from a container of vehicle spare parts.

Two suspects, John Ochigbo and Okeke Kingsley, were taken into custody in connection with the seizure.

The agency also intercepted a batch of methamphetamine concealed in a picture frame and Loud hidden in video players at courier companies in Lagos, as well as the seizure of over 6,000 bottles of skuchies, a cannabis-based drink, from a factory in Ikorodu.

Commending his officers’ efforts, Marwa said, “I urge all commands to maintain our balanced approach to drug control.”

Meanwhile, the NDLEA said that it continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiatives, targeting schools, community centres, and places of worship.

The statement contains claims that multiple arrests and drug seizures were reported across Nigeria, marking significant progress in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and substance abuse. (The Guardian)

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