The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 884kg of cocaine and “Colorado” at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.
The illicit drugs, concealed in two containers of household items, were smuggled from South Africa, according to Mr. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesman.
The interception
- The interception, disclosed on Sunday in Abuja, resulted from coordinated intelligence gathering and months of meticulous tracking by three special units of the NDLEA.
- Alongside the drugs, the joint inspection uncovered arms, ammunition, military effects, and chemicals stored in kegs.
- During the examination conducted jointly by NDLEA operatives and the Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday and Friday, significant findings emerged.
- The seized items included four pistols, 197 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 275 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
- The contraband, wrapped in 1,274 parcels, was skillfully hidden among household items.
- Sniffer dogs played a crucial role in the discovery of both the cocaine and “Colorado.”
What you should know
- In a related development, NDLEA and the Customs Service intercepted a third container containing 32.5kg of “Colorado” concealed within used vehicles imported from Canada. A 41-year-old suspect linked with the container has been arrested by NDLEA.
- Colorado is a strong strain of Indian hemp or marijuana, causing mental and psychological impairment to consumers.
- While cocaine is a powerful additive stimulant drug that can have serious effects on health and well being.
- According to the United Nations Office on drugs and crime, Nigeria is a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian and North American markets.
- Drug traffickers have been increasingly using West African countries like Nigeria, for smuggling large amounts of cocaine from South America to Europe and North America.
- Nigeria has a relatively high rate of drug abuse because of the continued availability of illicitly manufactured and diverted pharmaceutical products containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.