Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have thwarted an attempt to smuggle cannabis, commonly known as “Loud,” concealed in a duvet and destined for the United Kingdom.
The interception took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday, according to a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
“Six parcels of the psychoactive substance, weighing a total of 3.50 kilograms, were hidden inside the duvet,” Babafemi disclosed.
He added that two individuals connected to the consignment, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, were immediately apprehended.
During questioning, Balogun, identified as the principal agent responsible for arranging the shipment, admitted to being paid ₦700,000 for the job. “I spent part of the money on export handling charges and used the rest to pay for an apartment,” he reportedly stated.
In a separate operation in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a hideout where substances known as “skuchies” and weapons were uncovered.
“At least two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun, were arrested in the community,” Babafemi said.
“Seven litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance made with black currant, cannabis, and opioids, were seized along with three locally-made double-barrel rifles, one locally-made double-barrel pistol, and other firearms.”
Further action in Lagos led to the seizure of 47 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, and 25.46 kilograms of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, during a raid in the Akala area of Mushin on January 19.
Elsewhere, a 26-year-old man, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested on January 23 in Ekiti State with 1.95 kilograms of Canadian Loud, while in Kwara State, operatives detained Auwal Sani on January 20 after confiscating 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 36.56 kilograms.
In Kano State, a Nigerien national, Abubakar Lami, and two others, Abba Sani and Auwal Aliyu, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 13.1 kilograms of skunk and 125 litres of a psychoactive substance known as “suck and die.”
Another operation in Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu, led to the destruction of a cannabis plantation and the arrest of 45-year-old Sabo Ali Muhammad.
The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended the officers for their vigilance and dedication to curbing drug trafficking. “These operations demonstrate our unwavering commitment to dismantling drug networks and preventing the abuse of dangerous substances,” Marwa said.
