By Ayo Kehinde
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking network involving illicit consignments concealed in water purifier machines imported from Europe, while also intercepting a cache of military-grade ammunition in Kaduna State, in what officials described as a series of significant breakthroughs in the agency’s nationwide offensive against organised crime.
The spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, said NDLEA operatives discovered and seized three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA, popularly known as Ecstasy, hidden inside water purifier machines shipped from the Netherlands to Lagos.
The illicit consignments were uncovered at a courier facility on May 26 in Lagos, following intelligence-led operations, exposing yet another attempt by international drug syndicates to exploit commercial cargo channels to move narcotics into Nigeria.
The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the increasing sophistication of transnational drug trafficking organisations, which have adopted elaborate concealment methods to evade law enforcement agencies.
In one of the most startling discoveries during the week, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway intercepted a 30-year-old suspect, Sunusi Musa, with 380 rounds of military-grade RLA 7.62mm ammunition allegedly being transported to Katsina State.
The interception occurred near Jere in Kaduna State on May 24. NDLEA said the suspect and the ammunition were subsequently handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The recovery of military-grade ammunition by anti-narcotics operatives has heightened concerns over the possible links between drug trafficking networks and the movement of weapons across regions grappling with banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
