The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 77,000 kilograms of skunk in separate operations across Cross River and Edo states.
According to a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, 75,000 kilograms of the psychoactive substance were set ablaze at Esuk-Odot village in Cross River State.
Further operations on Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24, in Edo State led to the destruction of an additional 1,957.5 kilograms in Ohosu forest, Ovia South West Local Government Area, and the Okhuse community forest in Owan West Local Government Area.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Nasarawa State arrested two suspects, 51-year-old Sunday Daniel and 30-year-old Abu Peter, in Keffi on Saturday, May 24, after discovering 4,000 kilograms of skunk concealed beneath unprocessed wood in their lorry.
Another suspect, 39-year-old Godwin Obi, was arrested in Karu on Wednesday, May 21, with 154.5 kilograms of the same drug.
In Kaduna, a patrol along the Kaduna–Zaria expressway on May 21 led to the interception of 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza, who was caught with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam. Similarly, in Yobe State, a stop-and-search operation on the Potiskum–Damaturu road resulted in the seizure of 55 parcels of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis amounting to two kilograms.
The suspect, 29-year-old Adum Muhammed, was reportedly attempting to smuggle the drugs into the Republic of Chad through the Ngamboru-Ngala border in Borno State.
NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended the agency’s operatives nationwide for their dedication, lauding their efforts to maintain a balance between reducing the supply of illicit drugs and addressing demand-related challenges.
