Crime
NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports
NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a total of 31, 124, 600 pills of tramadol 225mg and bottles of codeine-based syrup worth about N18 billion at both Port Harcourt and Apapa seaports.
According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi the seizures at both Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state and Tincan seaports in Apapa, Lagos, were made following intelligence processed by the agency on the movement of the shipments from their port of origin in India, leading to a demand for a 100 percent joint examination of the watch-listed containers with the Nigerian Customs Service and other sister security agencies.
He noted that a breakdown of the seizures show that 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers at Tincan port in Lagos last Thursday and Friday with each of the two containers having 175,000 bottles of the opioid.
He said at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted a total of 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing 29, 840,000 pills of the opioid as well as 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers last Thursday, adding that the tramadol shipments came under different brand names such as Royal Tapetadol, Carisoprodol 225mg and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.
Babafemi said the following day, Friday, another set of three containers watch-listed by NDLEA were subjected to joint examination, and at the end of the exercise, a total of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup containing 554,600 bottles of the opioid were recovered from them, bringing the total bottles of codeine seized at Onne, Rivers and Tincan in Lagos to 1,284,600 bottles worth N8,992,200,000.00 in street value while the combined seizure of tramadol stood at 29,840,000 pills valued at N8,940,000,000.00.
The spokesman said NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers state last Tuesday arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan, while attempting to board a Cronos airline flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea with 1,490 pills of tramadol concealed and packaged as cosmetics of different brands inside his luggage. His attempt to compromise the officers to evade arrest was rebuffed.
He said a wanted ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has surrendered to the Lagos Command of the agency after about eight months in hiding.
He recalled that the former beauty pageant was declared wanted by the agency in January after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.
Babafemi said the suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation, and recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grammes of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.
He said the suspect who claimed she has been hiding in Akure, Ondo state capital since January when she escaped arrest in Lekki Lagos however surrendered to the agency last Wednesday.
Babafemi disclosed that no less than 1,122 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized from a suspect, Mustapha Ibrahim when he was arrested last Monday along Orchid road, Ajah, Lagos, while 816 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance belonging to a suspect at large was recovered from the same location same day.
In Niger state, NDLEA operatives last Monday arrested a suspect Friday Gabriel along Minna-Suleja road while conveying 1,900 capsules of tramadol, 300 bottles of codeine syrup and 600 packets of exol-5 tablets; operatives in Bauchi state on Saturday arrested two suspects: Garba Muhammed, 35; and Usman Shehu, 31,
along Bauchi-Gombe road while transporting 308 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4 kilogrammes, concealed in false compartment of a J5 bus marked Edo state URM 38 ZY.
The spokesman said commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
In his response to the latest seizures and arrests, Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended all the officers and men of PHPC, Tincan and the Special Operations Unit of the Agency that had been working on the targeted containers for their vigilance and professionalism.
He equally praised the support received from other stakeholders at the ports that enabled the seamless and successful operations in the course of targeting the shipments, while applauding operatives in Lagos, Niger, Bauchi and PHIA as well as other commands across the country for their diligence and balance in their drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction efforts.
NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation MESA have arrested 13 suspected illegal miners at a newly excavated mining site in the Shere general area of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2026, by troops of the 7 Guards Battalion during an operation in the area.
The suspects were reportedly found at a newly excavated site suspected to be operating illegally.
The 13 suspects are currently in military custody for further action.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by security forces to curb illegal mining activities, prevent the exploitation of mineral resources by unauthorised operators and address associated security concerns within the FCT.
Troops arrest 13 suspected illegal miners at newly excavated site in Abuja
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Three people have been killed in an attack on an illegal mining site between Jol and Tashek communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 8:10 p.m. on Nov. 10, prompting troops of Sector 6, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed at Dakku, to respond to the distress report.
The troops, upon arrival at the scene, discovered that members of the community had evacuated three bodies of victims killed during the attack.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the assailants, with troops deploying an EIB Stratoc drone to support surveillance and intelligence gathering around the area.
The troops have also intensified patrols and maintained an aggressive security presence in the general area to prevent further attacks.
The incident comes amid recurring security concerns around illegal mining sites in parts of Plateau State, where disputes over access to mineral resources and control of mining locations have reportedly triggered violent confrontations.
There have been instances in which illegal miners allegedly attack one another over control of mining resources, while other incidents have involved armed groups reportedly targeting mining locations.
In some cases, suspected Fulani armed bandits have also been accused of attacking illegal mining sites, allegedly using such locations to carry out revenge attacks.
However, the circumstances surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of the attackers and their motive, remain unclear.
The recurring violence point to the need for stronger security measures and effective enforcement against illegal mining, which has increasingly become a source of criminal activity, economic exploitation and insecurity in parts of the state.
Security agencies are working to establish the circumstances of the attack and bring those responsible to justice.
Three killed in attack on illegal mining site in Plateau
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 27 Task Force Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with local hunters, have neutralised a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist during an ambush operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Security sources said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by troops and local security partners to dismantle terrorist networks and restrict their movements within the area.
The joint team reportedly laid an ambush on the suspected terrorists, leading to the neutralisation of one ISWAP fighter.
Troops, hunters neutralise ISWAP terrorist in ambush operation in Yobe
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