In Rivers state, the NDLEA seizes 338,000 bottles of codeine syrup valued

In Rivers state, the NDLEA seizes 338,000 bottles of codeine syrup valued at approximately N1.19 billion.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has  seized 338,000 bottles of  codeine syrup, with an estimated street value of over N1.19 billion, during a joint operation at the Port  Complex in Port Harcourt in Onne, Rivers  State.
Not a valid attachment ID.
This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi,  Director of Media and Advocacy  at the NDLEA  headquarters in Abuja.
The illegal consignments, totaling 338,200 bottles, were discovered in two containers that had been  placed on a watch list by the NDLEA following  intelligence inputs.
NDLEA arrests 18,500 suspected traffickers,  seizes 2.6 million  kilograms of drugs in 2024  -
"A total of  three hundred and  thirty-eight thousand two hundred (338,200) bottles of  codeine syrup  with a market value of over one billion one hundred and  ninety million one hundred and  sixty-eight thousand two hundred naira ("N1,190,168,200.00") were intercepted in two containers  monitored by the  "intelligence-processing agency," the statement  said.
2,217.6 kg of skunk  seized in  FCT
Among the most notable was the interception of a  40-foot trailer carrying 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk, a  variety of cannabis, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The operation also resulted in the arrest of a key suspect and the seizure of several  vehicles.
The drugs were distributed  in six vehicles at an abandoned  gas station  and then transported to several northern  states. The operation led to the seizure of not only the  illegal cargo, but also the trailer and six vehicles, including a Toyota  pick-up truck, a Toyota Camry,  a Toyota Sienna bus,  a JAC Hilux  four-wheel drive truck,  a Toyota  Corolla and a  Car Passat  Vento. The trailer  was loaded with drugs in Uzebba, Owan Local Council  Area of  Edo State. The suspect arrested in the operation is Isaac Monday  Desmond, 42 years old. Seizures of cocaine, opioids and  cannabis
In another raid in the FCT, two individuals, Anthony Nnamdi (42) and Abba Ali (27), were  arrested in Nyanya with  1,398 kilograms of cocaine and a precursor substance used in  the preparation of crack cocaine.
In Lagos, officers from the Directorate of  General Operations and  Investigations (DOGI)  seized 20  packages of cocaine weighing 330 grams. The drugs were  hidden in face cream containers in a shipment  destined for  Australia.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria  Road on January 9,  2025 and arrested 23-year-old Habibu  Ya'u. The raid  resulted in the  discovery of 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2 kilograms and 40,800  opioid tablets, including  tramadol. Traditional High Priest Arrest
The traditional chief priest of Igunuko  Shrine in Lekki, Lagos,  Pastor Aliu,  has been arrested after being on the run for over three months.  Ali, also known as Malo, was wanted in connection with the  removal of 2,760 kilograms of  cannabis from his shrine in October  2024.
What you  need to know
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)  has also seized 1,960 kilograms of cannabis and arrested six  foreigners at Eleko Beach, Lekki,  Lagos.
Nairametrics said Nigeria is among the  countries with the highest cannabis consumption, following global trends in the use of illicit substances. Cannabis remains the most  widely used drug in Nigeria, with widespread  use across the  country. This trend, highlighted by World of Statistics  under its nickname X, highlights the growing challenges governments  face in controlling drug use and its  social impacts on public  health. In Africa, South Africa and Nigeria  stand out for their high prevalence of cannabis  use.
Worldwide, cannabis is the most  widely used illicit drug,  and several countries, including Argentina,  Australia and Belgium, also  have high rates of cannabis  use.
Countries such as Afghanistan,  Azerbaijan and Iran continue to struggle with opium and heroin use, while methamphetamine  use is  widespread in countries  such as China,  Japan and South  Korea.

[attachment deleted by admin]