NDLEA Intercepts 3 Million Deadly Opioid Capsules at Lagos Terminal

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted three million capsules of opioids at Jaelith Bonded Container Terminal under Tincan Seaport in Apapa area of Lagos.

Opioids are known to be more dangerous and potent than tramadol, popularly abused in the country.

The seizure of the three million capsules of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol weighing 1,500 kilogrammes on Monday, according to the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, followed a similar operation in which anti-narcotic officers of the agency also intercepted 8,613 kilogrammes of Loud cannabis smuggled in from Ghana through the waterways at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos the previous day, Sunday 6th March.

He said the seized drugs at the bonded terminal were discovered during a joint examination of a 20ft container, SUDU 7774749 with men of Customs service. Though the consignment was said to have originated from Ningbo Province in China and falsely labelled as containing 271 packages of “insulating fittings, faucet water closet (WC), industrial office printing machine”, investigations revealed that information on the bill of lading and shipping documents were fake.

Babafemi said further investigations uncovered that the container originated from India and arrived in Nigeria Apapa port on 10th February 2022, with findings showing that the Tramadol found and labelled as Tafrodol 120mg is actually Tapentadol, which is more dangerous and potent opioid than Tramadol.

It was also discovered that the container, SUDU 7774749 was consigned from India in Nhava Sheva port, then transloaded through Morocco and Ghana to Nigeria.

He said based on credible intelligence, operatives of the Lagos Command of the agency in the early hours of Sunday 6th March intercepted a consignment of Cannabis Sativa (Loud) weighing 8,613 kilogrammes smuggled from Ghana through the waterways to the Eko Atlantic Beach side, Victoria Island.

He added that some drivers and their assistants: Adeyemi Bayioku, 31; Godwin Anya, 28; Yusuf Taofik, 20, and Adeniyi Adelaja, 19, who were on ground to load the shipment into their vehicles were promptly arrested while two trucks, a Siena space bus, Peugeot Boxer bus and a Toyota Camry car were seized from them.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has commended the officers and men of the Tincan Port and Lagos Command of the agency for their vigilance and commitment to the mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.

He also applauded the current synergy and working relationship between the agency and other law enforcement agencies in the country.