The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the interception of a container load of Tramadol at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, just as 90 persons including an Indian were caught in its dragnet during raids of some drug cartels in parts of Lagos where a total of 614.396 kilograms of various hard drugs were reportedly seized.
A breakdown showed that at the Apapa seaport, about two million capsules of Tramadol (precisely 1,994,400 capsules) tucked in 554 cartons were intercepted in the container, which was falsely declared to contain ceramic tiles.
NDLEA Apapa Seaport Area Commander Samuel Gadzama said one of the containers bearing the illicit drug had been intercepted and seized in Kenya, according to a statement by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Gadzama said though the second container found its way to Nigeria, ‘the eagle eyes of our narcotic agents discovered it during a joint inspection of the ship. Wer are continuing with further investigations.’
Similarly, operatives of the Lagos State Command of the Agency has raided some drug spots in Agege, Ikorodu, Lekki, Okokomaiko and other parts of the state and dismantled major drug syndicates, arrested suspects and seized large quantities of hard drugs.
During the raids, a total of 90 suspects including an Indian were arrested while over 614 kg of various types of drugs were seized. According to the Lagos State Commander of the Agency, Mr Ralph Igwenagu, the breakdown of the seizures is as follows: Cannabis Sativa 577.020 kg; Cocaine 0.183kg, Heroine 0.003 kg, Tramadol 36.202kg (7,697) tablets, Rohypnol 0.208kg (646) tablets, Diazapam 0.462kg (2066) tablets, Exol-5 0.52kg (316) tablets, making a total of 614.396kg of different types of hard drugs seized.
One of the drug syndicates busted during the raids is co-ordinated by one Samuel Ebenezer in Lekki whose cartel imports special sophisticated drugs baked in cakes, biscuits and cookies from the United States and sells to affluent customers in Lekki and Lagos Island.
The second syndicate is said to be co-ordinated by an Indian, Inderpreet Singh, alias Bobby, who imports Tramadol 225mg from India and sells in Nigeria from Osy Agomo Close, Apple Estate, in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. Mr Singh is also a dealer in tricycle parts and the Managing Director of Rashaan Trading Ltd. Arrested with him was a Nigerian identified as Sylvester Omoredien.
In his reaction to the Apapa Seaport seizure and Lagos raids, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended the commanders, men and officers of the Commands involved in the operations for their efforts, charging them to remain focused on the maxim of his leadership, that is, offensive action against illicit drug users, peddlers, traffickers and the barons.
