![NDLEA Seizes N3.3 Billion Worth of Meth and Loud Hidden in Auto Parts from Canada [Photos]](https://gists9ja.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_4978.jpeg)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made significant drug busts, intercepting large shipments of methamphetamine and Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, worth billions of naira.
These drugs, concealed in automobile spare parts, were imported from Canada and seized at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, Nigeria.
The successful operation followed months of extensive, intelligence-driven surveillance and tracking across three continents, ensuring that the illicit substances, intended for distribution during the Christmas and New Year festive season, were prevented from entering Nigeria’s streets.
In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, provided detailed information on the two separate drug seizures that took place on December 12th and 13th, 2024. The first consignment involved 5.001 kilograms of methamphetamine, found concealed in a bag wrapped in a bedsheet inside a Toyota Camry. The car was part of a shipment containing vehicles and spare parts, headed for warehouses in Lagos’ Ladipo automobile market. Isaac Onwumere, a businessman linked to the consignment, was arrested in connection with the shipment.
The second seizure occurred on December 13th, when operatives discovered a much larger haul in another container. This shipment contained 867.5 kilograms of Loud (synthetic cannabis) and 78.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, hidden in 44 jumbo bags and six plastic coolers. The estimated street value of this illicit cargo was staggering, with the methamphetamine valued at ₦124.95 million and the Loud cannabis worth ₦2.17 billion. Nwanolue Emeka and Friday Ogbe, two businessmen connected to this shipment, were arrested by the NDLEA.
The seizures are historic in the NDLEA’s fight against drug trafficking, as they mark the first time the agency has intercepted such large quantities of methamphetamine and Loud disguised within automotive shipments. The drugs were flagged through a multi-phase operation that began in Canada and traced the consignments as they traveled via Europe before arriving in Lagos.
The operation to intercept the drugs was conducted in close collaboration with Nigerian Customs officers and other port authorities, ensuring that the consignment was fully examined before being allowed into the country. Babafemi explained that the first shipment was flagged for surveillance in October 2024 when it was prepared for shipment from Toronto, Canada. It traveled through Antwerp, Belgium, before arriving in Lagos in December. Similarly, the second shipment, which contained the larger quantity of Loud and methamphetamine, was tracked from Canada, through Montreal, and finally to Lagos.
In a separate operation, the NDLEA reported the interception of 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, another highly addictive substance, which had been shipped from India. These shipments, which were seized between December 9th and 13th, 2024, at the Port Harcourt Port Complex in Rivers State, were valued at approximately ₦4.46 billion. The seizures were also the result of joint inspections carried out by NDLEA operatives, Customs officers, and other security agencies, based on credible intelligence.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, commended the agency’s Special Operations Units at the Tincan and Onne Commands for their dedication and effectiveness in securing the seizures. He praised the operatives for their persistence, ensuring that these illegal drugs were intercepted before they could be distributed across Nigeria. Marwa emphasized that the NDLEA’s operations reflect its advanced intelligence network, which allows the agency to track narcotic shipments even before they arrive on Nigerian soil.
In his statement, Marwa sent a clear message to drug traffickers, warning that their efforts would be thwarted, and that such substantial losses would continue to be incurred if they persisted in their criminal activities. He assured the public that the NDLEA remains committed to curbing drug trafficking and protecting Nigerian communities from the devastating effects of illicit substances.
These recent operations underscore the NDLEA’s ongoing fight against the trafficking of illegal drugs into Nigeria, reinforcing the agency’s reputation as a formidable force in the global anti-drug campaign. The agency’s successful interceptions also highlight the importance of international collaboration and intelligence sharing in tackling the complex issue of drug trafficking, which continues to affect nations around the world.
