Drug Trafficking: NDLEA Intercepts 1.49 Tonnes of Thai Loud Worth N4.4bn
Kehinde Adeleye
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a new maritime route allegedly being used by international drug syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into Nigeria.
The agency seized 1.49 tonnes of “Loud” worth more than N4.4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the consignments were shipped from Thailand. He said the seizures represent the agency’s first recorded interception of illicit drugs trafficked from Thailand to Nigeria through the maritime corridor.
At the Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, discovered 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud concealed in a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries.
The consignment contained 2,181 sachets packed in 54 cartons.
At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, another container under NDLEA surveillance was also intercepted. Four of seven pallets wrapped in black nylon were found to contain 400kg of Thai Loud, packed in 96 cartons.
The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, which were allegedly used to conceal the drugs.
The NDLEA said both containers originated from the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, indicating what the agency described as an emerging trafficking route.
The seizures formed part of a nationwide operation conducted between August 15 and 22, during which the agency also destroyed 10 tonnes of cannabis, intercepted cocaine hidden inside edible cassava fufu and arrested several suspected drug dealers.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo at Ilisan with 90 grammes of skunk packaged in retail sachets. The woman reportedly told investigators that she began selling cannabis after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.
Due to her advanced age, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that she be granted bail and placed on counselling. Her daughter was also arrested over the alleged drug trade.
In Akwa Ibom, operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly transporting drugs to fishing communities in Cameroon. Three suspects were arrested, with 42.622kg of illicit drugs, including skunk and cocaine, recovered.
One of the suspects was allegedly found with cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava fufu.
In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 10,000kg of cannabis cultivated across four hectares of farmland in Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area.
Other operations across the country led to the recovery of tramadol, methamphetamine, cocaine, codeine, diazepam, Rohypnol and other illicit substances.
The agency said its operations were complemented by public sensitisation campaigns under its War Against Drug Abuse programme across schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities.
Marwa commended the officers involved in the operations and urged NDLEA personnel nationwide to sustain enforcement efforts while combining them with prevention, counselling, public education and community engagement.
