Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have arrested members of a syndicate involved in the illicit importation and trafficking of lethal synthetic opioid, Fentanyl.
The Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the drug was ‘100 times’ stronger than Tramadol and capable of causing mass casualty among the youths population being targeted by the cartels.
He said that the operatives arrested two members of the syndicate: Collins Oguejiofor and Chigozie Uzoma at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra State, in well-coordinated and clinical operations.
Babafemi also said that the arrest was coming on the heels of an alert issued by the anti-narcotics agency on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 that some criminal elements were plotting to flood the Nigerian markets with the drug.
This, he said, was currently responsible for over 70 per cent ‘overdose deaths’ as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.
“According to the CDC in the US, Fentanyl is 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin.
“Following credible intelligence and synergy with local and international partners, NDLEA was able to mobilise necessary assets to trace the illicitly manufactured drug to the Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge..
“It was reputed to be the largest drug market in West Africa, after months of undercover monitoring, “he said.
NAN
