A major drug seizure in the neighbouring Ago Palace area of Okota has drawn attention in the Amuwo-Odofin axis after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered thousands of cartons of codeine-based syrup from a warehouse
The operation, carried out between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, resulted in the recovery of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, which the agency valued at more than ₦2.6 billion.
The warehouse is located on Hakeem Dosumu Street in the Ago Palace area of Okota, a neighbouring community to Amuwo-Odofin.
According to the NDLEA, its operatives moved in following credible intelligence and uncovered the large consignment during the operation.
The seizure is one of the latest major drug enforcement operations recorded around communities bordering the Amuwo-Odofin area.
In a separate operation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, NDLEA operatives also arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, with 1.55 kilogrammes of cocaine allegedly concealed inside his travel bag.
Onyebuchi, who the agency identified as a marble dealer in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
The NDLEA said a search of his check-in luggage revealed cocaine concealed within the side walls and railings of the bag.
The agency further alleged that the suspect confessed to selling his marble business and other assets to raise ₦23 million to purchase the consignment, which he reportedly intended to sell in India for up to ₦100 million.
While the two operations occurred at different locations, the seizures highlight ongoing drug enforcement activity across Lagos, including communities within and around the Amuwo-Odofin axis.
The NDLEA has not disclosed whether further arrests have been made in connection with the codeine warehouse seizure.