The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a truck containing 2.49 million pills of tramadol worth over N2 billion in Gombe State.
Mr Okechukwu Nkere, Commander, NDLEA, Gombe State Command, disclosed this at a news conference in Gombe on Friday.
Nkere said that the drugs comprised 30 white cartons containing 300, 000 tablets of tramadol and another 146 cartons of 2,190, 000 capsules of tramadol.
He said that the drugs being carried in a truck were intercepted at the entry point into Gombe at 8.30 p.m. on September 13.
He said that the drugs were concealed inside the truck and covered with bags of salt in a bid to evade suspicion and possible arrest.
“Following credible intelligence, we intercepted a truck transporting the illicit drugs to Gombe State.
“A total of 30 white cartons containing 300,000 tramadol tablets and 146 cartons containing 2,190,000 tramadol capsules were seized.
“The psychotropic substances were concealed in bags of salt, aimed at evading detection.
“The drugs are worth over N2 billion.
“Based on credible information that led to the interception of the drugs, the goods had been prevented from entering markets and eventually into the hands of their intended users.
“The drugs were destined for Gombe, and some would have been taken to Borno State,” he said.
According to him, three persons have been detained while an investigation was ongoing to uncover the owner of the drugs.
“The driver, spare driver, and one other person have been detained in connection to the interception of the drugs,” he said.
He commended the state government and other sister agencies for the synergy, adding that the war against illicit drugs needed collective efforts.
The state commander warned those still in the business of such drugs to steer clear of the state.
He said that the exhibits would be destroyed while suspects would soon be taken to court for prosecution upon concluding investigations.
For his part, the State Commissioner of Internal Security, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Bello (retired), commended the operatives of the agency for intercepting the drugs, adding that the seizure was a “big cache.”
Bello said that the seizure of illicit drugs complemented the state government’s efforts to rid Gombe State of such drugs and tackle the menace of drug abuse.
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