NDLEA intercepts ammunition concealed in palm oil kegs on Abuja-Kaduna highway

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed inside kegs of palm oil along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

The agency also arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Abubakar Amadu, during the operation carried out at Jere as part of nationwide intelligence-led raids that led to the seizure of illicit drugs worth over ₦10 billion.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement.

He said the ammunition, comprising 73 rounds of 7.62mm calibre, was recovered after operatives searched kegs filled with palm oil being transported by the suspect.

According to him, the suspect has been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation into the source and intended destination of the ammunition.

Babafemi said the Kaduna operation was conducted alongside similar raids in Lagos, Katsina and Edo states, leading to the arrest of suspected drug traffickers and the seizure of large consignments of narcotics.

He said in Katsina State, operatives arrested Mustapha Sani, 30, during a patrol at Baure in Safana Local Government Area with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition.

The agency also arrested an alleged drug kingpin, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, 55, over an attempt to export 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cartons of food items bound for the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Babafemi added that NDLEA intercepted 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg valued at over ₦2.2 billion at the Lagos airport, while 2,388.5 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at over ₦7.1 billion, were recovered from imported vehicles at the Apapa Seaport.

He further disclosed that operatives recovered 1,286 kilogrammes of cannabis and 86 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds during a raid on a warehouse in Ilushi Community, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Babafemi said the operations underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle drug trafficking networks and prevent the movement of illicit drugs and other dangerous items across the country.