NDLEA seizes N13b worth of tramadol,codeine in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized over 14, 481, 519 pills of tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup worth over N13 billion in street value in three major busts of drug cartels operating in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota and SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja yesterday.

He said the three intelligence-led operations began with the raid of House 8/10, Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin on October 29, where 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup measuring 4, 510, 000mls were recovered.

He added that in a similar operation, on October 31, NDLEA operatives swooped on a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo, located at Onitire, Aguda area of Surulere where 12, 700, 000 pills of tramadol were recovered.

Babafemi said in the same vein, at least six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport into the country have been arrested and 1, 210, 000 pills of tramadol seized from them in a painstaking operation that lasted for weeks.