The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking operation, intercepting cocaine hidden inside dry stockfish and arresting multiple suspects across the country.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the breakthrough followed intelligence on trans-border criminal activities, which led to a targeted operation in Lagos.
He said, “In the course of the operation, three jumbo size bags were found in possession of the kingpin 36-year-old Akputa Dickson Ejike.
“A search of the bags led to the recovery of Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven (237) wraps of cocaine buried in the heads of imported dry stock fish locally known as ‘Okporoko.’
“The cocaine pellets have a gross weight of 5.80 kilograms. The consignment was intended for export to Delhi, India.”
In another operation, NDLEA officers intercepted two shipments heading to the United Kingdom. One contained 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside automobile filters, while the other had 40 ampoules of Morphine Sulphate and nine ampoules of Fentanyl.
The agency also carried out raids in different parts of Lagos, arresting suspects and recovering large quantities of drugs. At a residence in Yaba, operatives seized 135 blocks of cannabis weighing 76.30 kilograms. Another suspect was arrested in Surulere with 78 blocks of “Ghana Loud” weighing 41 kilograms.
In Ekiti State, an 80-year-old man, Oke Samuel, was arrested during a raid, with 2.2kg of skunk and a small quantity of methamphetamine recovered from him.
Further operations across Ondo, Benue, Edo, and Taraba states led to the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of cannabis and the arrest of several suspects linked to drug distribution networks.
Babafemi added that the agency continues its War Against Drug Abuse campaign, carrying out awareness programmes in schools across multiple states.
The NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations for their efforts and praised commands nationwide for tackling both drug supply and demand.
