The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recovered hard drugs worth N4.8 billion from a warehouse in Lagos.

Its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, stated on Sunday in Abuja that the warehouse is tucked in Lagos’ popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area.

He added that NDLEA operatives raided the warehouse owned by a wanted billionaire drug baron on Saturday, August 19.

He stated that the raid yielded 1.4 million pills of tramadol (225mg), weighing 826kg and 3.2 million tablets of codeine with a gross weight of 3,360kg.

Mr Babafemi added that 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 28,410 litres of the substance in 284,100 bottles were also recovered from the warehouse.

“The drugs have a combined street value of N4,820,500,000,’’ he stated.

He added that during the operation that lasted hours, a suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, the chief security officer to the wanted drug baron, was arrested and is assisting in the ongoing investigation.

“The wanted drug baron and operator of the warehouse parades himself as an automobile spare parts dealer.

“The latest drug warehouse bust is coming on the heels of the arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Nwankwo, who was nabbed on Wednesday, August 9, with 2.8 million pills of `tramaking’.

“Tramaking’ is a brand of tramadol in 225mg and 250mg.

“Some of the drugs were recovered from Faith’s residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, FESTAC Town area of Lagos.

“Others were recovered from her warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos,’’ Mr Babafemi stated.

(NAN)