NDLEA foils attempt to smuggle ‘34,950 tramadol, diazepam capsules’ from Lagos to Borno

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a delivery package containing 34,950 capsules of tramadol and diazepam in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, in a statement on Saturday, said Mohammed Isah, the suspect, was arrested at a motor park in Lagos.

Babafemi said the 25-year-old suspect was recruited to move the drugs from Lagos to Borno by one Kakali Abubakar.

He added that the suspect was arrested with 12,390 capsules of tramadol (4.8kg), and 22,560 tablets of diazepam (14kg).

“A 25-year-old Mohammed Isah, recruited to move the drugs from Lagos to Borno was arrested on Tuesday, June 1, at SD motors park, Agege, Lagos with 12,390 capsules of tramadol weighing 4.8kg and 22,560 tablets of diazepam with a total weight of 14kg, bringing the total weight of the exhibits to 18.8kg,” the statement reads.

“According to him, on May 28, one Kakali Abubakar who also hails from Mandara mountain invited him to see him at Ezekiel street, Ikeja, where he gave him the assignment of transporting the drugs to Maiduguri for a fee of N50,000, which he accepted.

“He said Kakali advised him to either board a tanker or trailer from Lagos to Maiduguri to avoid being caught. He agreed, but rather travelled in a bus operated by SD Motors from Lagos to Kano, and then took another vehicle to Maiduguri.”

Babafemi also noted that the suspect, who hails from Gwoza LGA, Borno, said he accepted to carry out the delivery because of the financial challenges he was encountering.

“The suspect claims he accepted the offer because of the monetary benefit due to pressure on his finances, as his wife and three children displaced by Boko Haram activities are currently in a refugee camp in Maiduguri,” he said.

“Investigations revealed that before Mohammed’s arrest, Kakali had travelled out of Lagos to Maiduguri to await the arrival of the consignment.”

According to the statement, Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, commended the officials of the Lagos command who apprehended the suspect.