NDLEA Bursts Drug Cartel In Anambra

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agents have detained members of a syndicate involved in the illegal importation and distribution of the deadly synthetic opioid Fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than Tramadol and can result in a large number of fatalities among the youth population that the cartels are targeting.

“Following credible intelligence and synergy with local and international partners, the NDLEA was able to mobilise necessary assets to trace the illicitly manufactured drug to the Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, reputed to be the largest drug market in West Africa, after months of undercover monitoring.

“Convinced that the Agency has gathered sufficient evidence to nail the suspects, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) ordered a deployment of operatives to pick members of the syndicate one after the other. Odoh Collins 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 in part read.

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Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma were apprehended at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra State, in well-coordinated and clinical operations, according to a statement released by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, today, May 30.

This comes on the heels of a warning from the anti-drug agency on November 22, 2022, that some criminal groups planned to flood the Nigerian market with the substance, which is currently to blame for over 70% of overdose deaths and a significant factor in both fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States. Fentanyl is 100 times more strong than heroin and 80 times more potent than morphine, according to the CDC in the US.

Babafemi claimed that although varying amounts of illegal and restricted substances, including Fentanyl, were seized from Uzoma, packs of liquid Fentanyl were found in Odoh. Fentanyl injection ampules, Ozempic solution for injection in pre-filled pens, Sustanon injection ampules, Rivavirin injection ampules, Erythropoietin injection ampules, Recombinant Anti Rho-D Immunoglobulin injection ampules, Pethidine injection ampules, and Zoladex 3.6 mg Goserelin are a few of the other drugs mentioned.

In response to the arrest of members of the syndicate, Marwa praised all Agency officials and personnel participating in the operation while giving them instructions to step up their investigation into potential subterranean cartel members.

“We’ll no doubt hunt down every member of this criminal gang before they do further harm to our public health, especially our youth population. In the meantime, I’ll like to thank our international partners for their huge confidence in us and their support and partnership for the benefit of humanity. In the same vein, I’ll urge parents and other stakeholders to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting to experiment with this illicit substance,” Marwa stated.

‘’The Agency wishes to reiterate that exposure to this lethal opioid, which could come in different forms, as has been shown by the seizure, may result in pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or losing consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin,” the statement added.