Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of cannabis, popularly known as “Loud,” concealed within a duvet and destined for the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizure was made on Tuesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
Two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
The NDLEA revealed that six parcels of the psychoactive substance, weighing 3.50 kilograms, were carefully hidden inside the duvet.
According to the statement, Austin Balogun, the primary agent responsible for the shipment, admitted to being paid ₦700,000 to handle the consignment.
He disclosed that part of the funds was used to cover export handling charges, while the majority was spent on securing an apartment.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives uncovered a hideout in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, where they seized quantities of “skuchies,” a new psychoactive substance made from black currant, cannabis, and opioids, alongside several firearms.
Meanwhile, a raid in the Akala area of Mushin, Lagos, on January 19 led to the seizure of 47 kilograms of skunk, a cannabis strain, and 25.46 kilograms of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
Beyond Lagos, operations extended to other states. In Ekiti, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was apprehended with 1.950 kilograms of Canadian Loud on January 23.
Similarly, in Kwara’s Moro Local Government Area, Auwal Sani was arrested on January 20 with 50,000 tramadol pills weighing 36.56 kilograms.
In Kano State, a Nigerien, Abubakar Lami, alongside two others, was arrested with 13.1 kilograms of skunk and 125 liters of a psychoactive substance known as “suck and die.” Additionally, a cannabis plantation in Dawakin Kudu Council was destroyed, and a suspect linked to the farm, Sabo Ali Muhammad, was taken into custody.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), Chairman of the NDLEA, commended the officers involved in the operations, reiterating the agency’s dedication to combating drug trafficking and curbing drug abuse in Nigeria.
These efforts underscore the NDLEA’s commitment to eradicating the drug menace across the country while ensuring the safety and security of citizens.