Nigeria Seizes Drugs Hidden in Water Purifiers, Military-Grade Ammunition Nationwide

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced significant breakthroughs in its campaign against drug trafficking and abuse, uncovering illicit drug consignments concealed within water purifier machines imported from Europe. In parallel operations across the country, the agency also intercepted military-grade ammunition.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives discovered and seized high-potency drugs, including three kilograms of ketamine and 199 grams of MDMA (Ecstasy), hidden inside water purifier machines that had arrived from the Netherlands. These drugs were found during a routine inspection at a courier company, illustrating the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by international drug syndicates to smuggle narcotics into Nigeria, according to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi.

Further operations yielded substantial seizures of cannabis, known locally as skunk. In Kaduna State, a couple, Musa Sunday and Mercy Sunday, along with a third suspect, Salomi Ezekiel, were arrested after 1,246 kilograms of skunk were recovered from their residence. Meanwhile, in Niger State, operatives raided a warehouse and recovered 457 kilograms of skunk, leading to the arrest of Godwin Zakka.

Beyond drug seizures, the NDLEA also intercepted a cache of 380 rounds of military-grade 7.62mm ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna highway. The suspect carrying the ammunition, identified as Sunusi Musa, was reportedly transporting it to Katsina State and has been handed over to relevant security agencies. In Enugu State, a commercial vehicle traveling from Onitsha to Taraba State was intercepted, leading to the recovery of 22,000 tramadol pills, 100 ampoules of pentazocine, and 200 grams of bromazepam. The driver, James Maigari Wisdom, was arrested.

In addition to enforcement, the NDLEA continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign, conducting sensitization programs in schools and communities across several states. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Buba Marwa, commended the officers involved in these successful operations.

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The drugs were uncovered during a routine inspection at a courier company in Lagos last Tuesday, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by international drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle narcotics into the country.