NDLEA seizes illicit drugs after gun battle with suspected traffickers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 8,852kg illicit drugs consignment in Lagos State.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman said the operation followed a gun battle between anti-narcotic agents and armed men who were escorting the consignment at the Eleko beach road in Lekki area of the State.

The 8,852kg illicit drugs, which is (8.8 tons) equivalent of Canadian Loud, an imported synthetic strain of cannabis.

He revealed in a statement on Sunday that armed men who were escorting the consignment loaded in two long trucks.

Babafemi said NDLEA operatives while acting on credible intelligence, had laid ambush for the traffickers along the Eleko beach road in Lekki and at about 4:51am on Thursday 4th May, two long trucks conveying the illicit consignments were flagged down.

But rather than stopping, the trucks escorted by armed men sped off, as a result of which there was an exchange of gunfire that lasted 30 minutes.

After they were overpowered by the NDLEA operatives, the truck drivers and their armed escorts escaped into the bush abandoning the trucks and the drug consignments, according to the NDLEA.

The agency also said one of the trucks painted red has 149 jumbo bags weighing 6,548kg, the second one with blue colour has 53 big bags with a weight of 2,304kg, bringing the total number of bags to 202 and gross weight of both to 8,852 kilograms.

In the meantime, operatives of the agency are already on the trail of the drug lord who shipped the illicit consignment into the Country.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives also intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle driven by one Mukaila Idowu, conveying 88.3kg skunk at Otedola bridge, Ikeja area of Lagos on the same day.

Another suspect, Joseph Friday was arrested on Saturday 6th May at Iyana Ira, Lagos with 58.7kg cannabis sativa concealed inside his Toyota Camry car marked FST 587FH.

Editor’s Note: The file photograph of NDLEA agents raiding a residence of a suspected female drug dealer in Delta State, appeared as featured image for the purpose of illustration.