The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday, 1st May intercepted 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck along Abuja-Abaji highway.
Its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued Sunday said the interceprion was made by NDLEA operatives on stop and search operation along Abuja-Abaji highway.
He revealed that the consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo state and meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution.
Babafemi stressed that four suspects: Efe Abel Mikel, 39; Ebigide Cyril, 29; Ejechi Monday, 41; and Friday Benson Chukwudi, 39, have been arrested in connection with the seizure.
He added that two suspects: Aminu Umar, 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their house at Unguwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state on Monday 29th April.
Babafemi noted that Bashir Umar, 35, was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano on Friday 3rd May with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.
He stressed that the agency has also smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.
Babafemi said no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-weeks intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.
He noted: “The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
“After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday 24th April after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases
containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.
‘The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.”
Babafemi stressed that another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Ugbe whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra state where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday 27th April while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.
He reveed that the two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday 29th April.
Babafemi explained that their arrest led to another operation in Abia state where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa