The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted a consignment of Captagon, a dangerous stimulant drug, in Kwara State, while recording multiple drug seizures and arrests in coordinated operations across the country.
The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi its spokesman.
According to the agency, the latest seizure comes nearly five years after the first recorded interception of Captagon in Africa at Apapa Port.
Captagon is an amphetamine-type stimulant widely abused in parts of the Middle East and is known for producing intense euphoria, suppressing fatigue, prolonging wakefulness and encouraging reckless behaviour.
NDLEA said the drug has also been linked to financing by armed militias and organised criminal groups.
Babafemi said operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu Road on April 21 intercepted a trailer conveying passengers.
A search of one of the passengers, identified as 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu, led to the recovery of 10 packs containing 10,000 Captagon pills, as well as nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.
In another operation at the same patrol point on April 24, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer marked RMY-70XA.
A search of the vehicle uncovered 155,900 capsules of Tramadol, 6,000 ampoules of Tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of Co-Codamol and 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam hidden in a specially constructed compartment beneath the trailer.
A 24-year-old suspect, Aminu Isah, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Oyo State, operatives intercepted a commercial bus with registration number MNA 963 ZY at Akinyele along the Ibadan–Oyo Expressway on April 21.
A passenger, 33-year-old Eze Prince Emeka, said to be a businessman based in Sokoto, was subjected to a body scan which confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs.
He was subsequently placed under observation and excreted 45 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.043 kilograms in three separate excretions.
NDLEA said preliminary investigation showed the suspect chose road travel to evade airport screening and intended to move the drugs through trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and a possible final destination in Europe.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted a truck marked NLC 146 FC along the Benin–Lagos Expressway carrying 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids.
Two suspects, Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were arrested. The consignment was reportedly headed for Onitsha.
In Lagos State, a suspect identified as Rasheed Ibuowo, 40, was arrested at Mile 2 Expressway while transporting 810 kilograms of Arizona, a strain of cannabis.
In Bauchi State, another suspect, Muktar Bello, 35, was arrested along Misau Road in Azare/Katagum LGA with 288 blocks of skunk weighing 154.5 kilograms.
In Ekiti State, operatives recovered 466.8 kilograms of skunk from the residence of Layit John Matthew, 56, on Ilaro Street, Isinbode-Ekiti. The drugs were allegedly being prepared for transportation to Yola.
In Cross River State, about 20,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on eight hectares of farmland in Uyanga Community, while 170 kilograms of processed cannabis were recovered during the operation.
In Niger State, operatives seized 394 pieces of improvised explosive device components from a suspect, Mohammed Aliyu, 26, along the Kontagora–Zuru Road. He was allegedly transporting the items in a Toyota vehicle to Shadadi in Mariga LGA.
NDLEA said the suspect and exhibits would be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
The agency also stated that its commands nationwide continued sensitisation campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse initiative in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations.
He described the seizure of 10,000 Captagon pills in Kwara as a major setback for drug syndicates attempting to reopen a trafficking route disrupted after the Apapa Port interception five years ago.
Marwa said the agency remained on high alert to prevent criminal networks from gaining a foothold in the country.
