Operatives of the National Dr¥g Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State have arrested two members of a syndicate said to be involved in the illicit importation and tr@fficking of the lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl.
The suspects, identified as Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma, were arrested at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, in Onitsha South LGA of the state.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday, May 30, said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence and synergy with local and international partners, 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 F£ntanyl, while the arrest of Uzoma who is a major dealer in other illicitly manufactured pharmaceutical opioids including Fentanyl, followed.
While packs of liquid Fentanyl were recovered from Odoh, different quantities of banned and controlled drugs including Fentanyl were seized from Uzoma. They include: Ampules of Fentanyl Injection; Ozempic solution for injection in pre-filled pens; Ampules of Sustanon 250mg/ml; Ampules of Rivavirin injection 200mg/2ml; Ampules of Erythropoietin injection; Ampules of Recombinant Anti Rho-D Immunoglobulin injection 300MG; Ampules of Pethidine 100mg/2ml solution for injection and Zoladex 3.6mg Goserelin.
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, ch%king or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin,” he said.
