The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids concealed in shoe soles intended to be shipped out of the country.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA director, media and advocacy, said the opioids seized in Lagos included tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection, among others.

“While no less than 250 grams of cocaine going to Cyprus was hidden in soles of custom-made shoes, over five kilograms of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, in clothes and other household items meant to be shipped through some courier firms in Lagos,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

The NDLEA official said authorities intercepted a consignment of 440 grams of loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis from Canada, in one of the logistic companies.

He said on July 8, operatives also raided a warehouse in Lekki’s VGC, Lagos, and recovered 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide popularly termed laughing gas, 108 cartons of fast gas cylinders, 134 pieces of balloon, and 109 cartons of infusion charger, among others.

Suliyat Abdulsalam a female suspect, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Speaking on other seizures, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives in Edo state intercepted a vehicle at Ewu junction, Esan Central LGA following credible intelligence.

“The luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was searched and found to contain custard containers, where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder,” the statement said.

“In his statement, the suspect claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra state and he was taking them to Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to sell.”

Babafemi said the arrest was made on July 10.

The following day, operatives raided the Ohen forest in Edo and destroyed 5,429.751kg of cannabis on 2.918 hectares of farmlands, the statement said.

Four suspects — Godday Ariye, 37; Friday Okafor, 59; Obinna Nwosu, 48; and Yusuf Adamu, 27 — were arrested.

In Ogun state, NDLEA officials recovered a total of 2,865 kilograms of cannabis at Afami Ibese on July 9. Umar Ibese, the suspected owner, is said to be currently at large.

In a joint operation with the army on July 9, Babafemi said at least 2,455 kilograms of materials for the production of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance (NPS), were recovered from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga LGA, Borno.