The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its efforts in combating drug trafficking, revealing a concerning trend of narcotics being concealed within the engine compartments and tyre tubes of commercial vehicles.
Expressing dismay over the escalating desperation exhibited by drug traffickers, Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, highlighted the agency’s commitment to disrupting the distribution networks of drug cartels.
This commitment drives NDLEA officers to conduct thorough stop-and-search operations on highways, aiming to intercept illicit substances before they reach their destinations.
In a recent operation conducted on the 7th of March 2024 along the Gbongan – Ibadan road in Osun state, NDLEA officers discovered approximately 5.2kg of cannabis sativa and opioids concealed within the engine compartment of an interstate commercial bus bearing the registration VDY 187 XA.
Sharing details of the successful interception, Babafemi emphasized the gravity of the situation, questioning whether passengers should now resort to inspecting engine compartments and tyre tubes of commercial vehicles before boarding.
He underscored the necessity of such measures, particularly in light of the disturbing tactics employed by drug traffickers.
Referring to a similar interception in November, Babafemi reiterated NDLEA’s overarching objective of disrupting all channels used by drug cartels for distribution.
In that instance, illegal drugs, including tramadol and cannabis, were found concealed in various parts of vehicles, including dashboards, tyre rims, tubes, engine compartments, and body panels, both in private and commercial vehicles.
Babafemi emphasized the imperative of NDLEA’s stop and search operations on highways, stressing that the seizure of opioids concealed within the body compartments of vehicles depicted in accompanying videos underscores the necessity to dismantle the distribution networks of drug cartels comprehensively.
