Exclusive: NDLEA Officers Reject N10 Million Bribe Over Drug Trafficker’s Release
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos State have made a stunning discovery, rejecting a whopping ₦10 million bribe attempt to secure the release of a drug trafficker, Tsolaye Eburajolo.
The news comes on the heels of a major haul of seized drugs, including 26.25 million tramadol pills and 508,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth ₦16,683,800,000, which were intercepted in collaboration with customs and security agencies at the Tincan Port in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port in Onne, Rivers State, between October 22nd and 23rd.
Eburajolo, a 40-year-old individual, was arrested in the Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos, in connection with the seized drugs.
The agency said that the bribe attempt was one of several pieces of evidence collected from the suspect, including the illicit drugs.
A statement released by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, detailed that the discovery was part of a series of successful operations that led to the seizure of additional illegal shipments, including 10 million tablets of Toradol Benzhexol and 28 plastic drums of methamphetamine weighing 700 kg at Tincan and Onne, respectively.
A total of 56 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 28 kg, were also recovered from a container that arrived at the Lagos Port from Canada.
The NDLEA also recovered 293 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injection, as well as 1,690 kg of cannabis and tramadol tablets concealed in hair attachments and the soles of shoes being sent to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Oman at three courier firms.
In another development, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid at the Igbo-Igunuko shrine in Alfa Beach, Ajah, Lagos, where they seized 2,760 kg of Ghanaian Loud, a specific strain of cannabis stored in large bags.
Two individuals, Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun, were taken into custody during the operation.
Additionally, another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin, was apprehended along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with 770 kg of the same illicit substance.
The agency also recovered a total of 11,786 pills, including tramadol, molly, Rohypnol, and diazepam, as well as 64 bottles of codeine syrup from a concealed underground storage at the residence of Muhammad Abdullahi.
Abdullahi had ingeniously excavated a hole in his bedroom, located on Marwa Coastal Road in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, which he covered with a padlocked iron slate and a rug, placing his mattress on top to evade detection.
In another operation, the NDLEA arrested a 39-year-old suspect, Fadan Bindom, in Pilgani village in Plateau State, who was found with 65.85 kg of cannabis and 18 grams of tramadol.
Another suspect, Sunday Agbata, aged 42, was also apprehended in Pavwei – Rayfield, Jos South LGA, with 5,830 tablets and ampoules of bromazepam, diazepam, and pentazocine injection.
The agency also arrested a major distributor of illegal drugs in the FCT, Abuja, Umar Muhammed, 40, following the seizure of a consignment of 198.5 kg of cannabis linked to him at Wuse Market Park.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 640 kg of cannabis concealed in 80 jumbo bags of fresh vegetables at Ewu Junction, Irrua, Esan Central LGA, and arrested a suspect, Austin Oruamen, 27, while another suspect, Adereti Kazeem, 35, was arrested with 200 blocks of cannabis weighing 133 kg at Obalayan, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
