Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested software engineer Olu Marshal at the import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for possession of illicit drugs. Marshal was detained on Tuesday, November 5, after he arrived to collect a consignment containing 700 grams of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis. A follow-up search of his residence in Lekki revealed additional drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher, as confirmed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, in a statement on Sunday.

“At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s import shed, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, November 5, intercepted a 700-gram consignment of Loud, a strong cannabis strain. Software engineer Olu Marshal, who came to claim the package, was immediately arrested, and further search of his home in Lekki uncovered drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher,” Babafemi stated.

The NDLEA also reported other significant drug seizures across Nigeria. On Wednesday, November 6, operatives at Apapa seaport in Lagos intercepted a container of 31.75 million Voltron pills (240mg), an opioid controlled substance, mislabeled as diclofenac sodium tablets, imported from India. The discovery was made during a joint inspection with Customs and other security agencies.

Additionally, NDLEA thwarted an attempt by suspect Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji to ship 32.5 kg of codeine syrup and 5.7 kg of cannabis to London, concealed in tiger nuts. A follow-up operation led to Nnaorji’s arrest at his warehouse in Ajao Estate, Lagos.

In other operations across Nigeria:

• Kwara State: NDLEA seized 162,800 opioid pills from four suspects in separate locations. In Ilorin, Wahab Alao Saliu was caught with 112,200 tramadol tablets, while Dalha Musa was found with 18,900 tablets. At Bode Saadu in Moro Local Government, Ahmed Isiaka had 29,000 tramadol pills, 200 diazepam ampoules, and 99 codeine syrup bottles, while Ahmed Garba was caught with 2,500 tramadol tablets.
• Abuja: NDLEA officers intercepted a truck on November 7 along the Abaji-Kwali Road carrying 755.5 kg of cannabis hidden under empty noodle cartons. The driver, Lukman Rasheed, claimed the cannabis was loaded in Ondo State.
• Taraba State: On November 4, operatives arrested Yusuf Abubakar with 361 cannabis blocks (156.95 kg) en route to Kano. Later that week, officers recovered 245 blocks (121 kg) on the Wukari-Ibi road.
• Plateau State: On November 6, Hamza Yakubu and Abdulra'uf Danjuma were arrested in Jos with 113 blocks of cannabis (141 kg). Meanwhile, Chadian national Hassan Muhammad Ali was detained on November 5 in Kano with 3,000 tramadol pills (225mg).
• Kaduna State: Ibrahim Adamu was apprehended in Jere with 35 sacks of cannabis weighing 338.8 kg.
• Edo State: NDLEA seized 1,078 kg of cannabis in the Okhuokhuo-Isi forest and an additional 228 kg at Sabo-Auchi.
• Ondo State: Four suspects, Friday Daniel, Patrick Felix, Samuel Agada, and Igwe Chukwuka, were arrested in Emure Ile with 672 kg of cannabis. In separate busts, officers recovered 513 kg in Ikun Akoko and a significant 4,908 kg of cannabis from Musibau Kosama in Akure on November 6.

These extensive operations underscore NDLEA’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking and consumption across Nigeria.