TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested members of a syndicate involved in the illicit importation and trafficking of Fentanyl, the lethal synthetic opioid.

According to a statement on Tuesday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, the arrests were made on the heel of the agency’s alert in November 2022 that there were plots to flood the Nigerian market with the drug.

Babafemi said the agency apprehended Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma members of the syndicate at Ogbogwu market,  in Onitsha South LGA, Anambra state.

The agency described Ogbogwu as “the largest drug market in West Africa”, adding that its officers raided the place after months of undercover monitoring.

“Oguejiofor was the first to be arrested while on a business mission with packets of 100 micrograms of Fentanyl, while the arrest of Uzoma, who is a major dealer in other illicitly manufactured pharmaceutical opioids, including Fentanyl, followed,” the statement reads.

“While packs of liquid Fentanyl were recovered from Odoh, different quantities of banned and controlled drugs, including Fentanyl, were seized from Uzoma.

“They include Ampules of Fentanyl Injection; Ozempic solution for injection in pre-filled pens; Ampules of Sustanon 250mg/ml; Ampules of Rivavirin injection 200mg/2ml; Ampules of Erythropoietin injection; Ampules of Recombinant Anti Rho-D Immunoglobulin injection 300MG; Ampules of Pethidine 100mg/2ml solution for injection and Zoladex 3.6mg Goserelin.”

The statement added that Fentanyl is a drug which is 100 times stronger than Tramadol and capable of causing mass casualty among the youth population.