NDLEA arrests suspects, seizes 2,919 codeine and 2.3m tramadol in Kaduna

By Teide Emomotimi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Zaria, Kaduna State said it has seized a total of 47 cartons of suspected fake Tramadol, which comprised 2.3million tablets, weighing 1222kg.

The NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, in which he added that the progress was made on April 25.

Mr Femi noted that Chinedu Asogwa, the dealer was arrested on April 26 along the Abuja to Kaduna expressway.

He asserted that the suspect arrested was with 2,919 bottles of cough syrups with codeine, measuring 2919.9litres and a gross weight of 396kg.

According to him, the raid operations in Ondo and Akwa Ibom States respectively had also led to the seizure of about 2,000kg of Tramadol, Codeine, heroin and cannabis.

It was also gathered that in Ondo State, two suspects; Emeka Ikebuaka, ’32’ and Julius Dapo, ’56’, were arrested at Ipele forest, in the Owei area, on Sunday, April 24, where 401kg of cannabis was recovered.

Femi narrated that on that same day, a trans-border drug trafficker, Chigbo Chinonye, ’42’ was arrested with amphetamine weighing 2.5kg and heroin weighing 0.5kg.

He said, “This happened during a stop and search operation which was conducted along the Oron Ibaka road on his way to Cameroon, where he concealed the drugs using false bottom packing.”

Mr Femi quoted the chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marva, for commanding officers and men of the agency’s commands in Kaduna, Ondo and the Akwa Ibom States, for the seizures and arrests of suspects.

The retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa charged all the compatriots across the country to remain vigilant, and steadfast in responsibility for their areas.