Massive Drug Bust: NDLEA Uncovers ‘Loud’ In Vehicles From Canada – What’s Your Reaction?

Massive Drug Bust: NDLEA Uncovers ‘Loud’ In Vehicles From Canada – What’s Your Reaction?Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted five separate shipments of opioids and other psychoactive substances, including promethazine, pentazocine, diazepam, tramadol, and morphine. These substances were concealed in clothes and other items intended for export to the United States and the United Kingdom.

One shipment containing 820 grams of promethazine and pentazocine injections was destined for the US, while the remaining four parcels, consisting of over two kilograms of opioids such as tramadol 225mg, molly, and NPS, were bound for the UK. All shipments were intercepted on July 29, 2024, at a logistics company in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesman, stated: “NDLEA operatives at the Tincan port in Lagos on August 2, 2024, recovered 77 packages of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, from the body compartments of four vehicles: a Toyota Highlander, a Ford Explorer, a Toyota Corolla, and a Toyota Sienna.”

The vehicles were imported from Canada, and the drugs were discovered during a joint examination of containers with Customs Service and other stakeholders. The seized consignments have a total weight of 38.5 kilograms. Two suspects, Salami Sunday (34) and Lekan Atoyebi (33), assigned to clear the shipments, have been taken into custody.

At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), NDLEA operatives intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs from a courier firm in Lagos, concealed in tins of Cerelac baby food and clothes bound for the US and UK. No fewer than 36 parcels of a strong strain of cannabis, hidden in six cartons of branded Nestle Cerelac baby food, were recovered at the SAHCOL export shed of Lagos airport on July 31, 2024. The psychotropic substance has a total weight of 18.50 kilograms.

A freight agent, Salaudeen Abiola, who presented the consignment for export to the UK, was promptly arrested. A follow-up operation in Ibadan, Oyo State, on August 3, led to the arrest of the sender, Bello Folu, at her residence in Elewuro, Akobo area of the Oyo State capital. The Cerelac tins were factory-sealed at the top, while the bottoms were tampered with to hide the substances, which were then covered with loose quantities of the infant cereal meal to prevent discovery. However, vigilant NDLEA officers foiled the attempt.

In Edo State, 22 and a half bags of cannabis weighing 220 kilograms were recovered from Egbeta community, Ovia North East Local Government Area, on July 30. A suspect, Osayede Aghoma, was arrested. Another suspect, Ibrahim Abubakar (55), was nabbed on July 31 with 40 blocks of the same substance, weighing 19.2 kilograms, along Okene-Lokoja highway in a commercial bus coming from Lagos en route to Kano.