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Tag: Cocaine

  • NDLEA intercepts UK, Europe-bound cocaine, opioids in Lagos

    NDLEA intercepts UK, Europe-bound cocaine, opioids in Lagos

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a consignments of cocaine and pharmaceutical opioids at three courier firms in Lagos.

    The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the drugs were concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads and hair treatment cream containers.

    Babafemi said that the consignments were heading to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Cyprus respectively.

    According to him, in one of the logistics companies, not less than 30 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms were concealed in hair cream containers.

    “They were recovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, (DOGI), during examination of cargoes going to Ireland on Tuesday Sept. 3

    “Another consignment of 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 862 grams also hidden in hair cream containers meant for delivery in UK was equally intercepted at the same company on Friday Sept. 5.

    In the same vein, a total of 525 pills of tramadol 225mg and ecstasy (MDMA) concealed in ladies’ sanitary pads going to Cyprus were seized at another courier firm in Lagos by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday Sept. 3.

    Meanwhile, a shipment of 200 ampoules of promethazine injection and pentazocine injection hidden in food items and herbs heading to London, UK, was also seized by operatives on Wednesday Sept. 4

    “Operatives equally intercepted another consignment of tramadol 225mg buried in granulated melon that came from Cameroon and going to South Africa on Friday 6th September,”he said.

    In another development, no fewer than 550,000 pills of tramadol were also intercepted at the Port Harcourt International Airport, (PHIA) Port Harcourt on Monday Sept. 2.

    Babafemi said that the tramadol pills were seized during a joint examination of a cargo that came from Delhi, India, with men of the Nigerian Customs Service.

    “A suspect was already arrested in connection with the seizure,”he said.

  • Businessman excretes 88 wraps of cocaine as NDLEA intercepts drugs in noodles at MMIA

    Businessman excretes 88 wraps of cocaine as NDLEA intercepts drugs in noodles at MMIA

    …nabs 70years grandpa in Ekiti Ogun forest raids+Photos

    …recovers N6.2billion worth of codeine bottles at Onne Port;

    A Vietnam-bound businessman, Paul Okwuy Mbadugha has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine.
    The 54-year-old suspect was intercepted at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Monday 12th August 2024 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha. After four days under excretion observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.710 kilograms.

    In his statement, he claimed he’s a Lagos based businessman and was given the cocaine pellets to swallow by a friend at Isolo area of the state for onward delivery in Vietnam for a fee of $2,000.

    In the same vein, NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have intercepted a shipment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 800 grams concealed in noodles going to Congo. A follow up operation at the Alaba International market, Ojo area of Lagos led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Nnamani Sunday Sunny, who deals in GSM handsets.

    Meanwhile, a large consignment of Loud imported from Canada have been recovered by NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport.

    A suspect, Desalu Taophic Temitope, who arrived on board an Air France flight with six boxes was arrested by anti-narcotic officers during a joint examination by security agencies at the arrival hall.

    A total of 65.80 kilograms of the psychoactive substance were recovered from four of the six suitcases. In his statement, Desalu said he and an accomplice currently at large were promised $10,000 upon successful delivery of the shipment in Lagos.

    No less than Eight Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand Four Hundred (892,400) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth Six Billion Two Hundred and Forty-Six Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N6,246,800,000.00) in street value were recovered from five containers by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state during a joint examination of the containers with men of the Nigeria Customs and other port stakeholders on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th August 2024. The bottles of the opioid were packed in 5,337 cartons with a gross weight of 133,860 kilograms and shipped in five containers from India.

    In Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as well as community youths on Wednesday 14th August raided the Ise forest reserve, Saalaja camp, Ise-Ekiti, where 21,800 kilograms of cannabis sativa on 20 hectares of farm land were destroyed.

    The following day, Thursday 15th August, NDLEA officers on patrol along Onitsha- Enugu road in Enugu intercepted a Sienna bus marked SKA-24 AG from which 200.2kg of cannabis was recovered and the driver, Okoro Emmanuel, 41, arrested.
    While the duo of Joseph Apeh, 45, and Diamond Nnabuike, 21, were arrested with 145,400 pills of tramadol on Monday 12th August at Gadar Tamburawa, area of Kano, NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Tuesday 13th August arrested 70-year-old Fidelis Egede and three others: Samuel Sylvanus, 31; Jato Samson, 33; and Francis Blessing, 28, when a cannabis plantation on six hectares was raided at Alaka village.

    In Abuja, NDLEA officers on patrol along Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway on Tuesday 13th August intercepted a truck from which 30,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection were recovered and three suspects: Ifeanyi Sunday, Jeremiah Paul and Edet Ubokobong arrested.
    While operatives in Niger state on Thursday 15th August arrested Ifeanyi Chukwueze in Kontagora town with 28, 500 pills of tramadol concealed in a loudspeaker, their counterparts in Kogi state on Wednesday 14th August nabbed Abba Yakubu with 40,000 pills of the same opioid heading to Kontagora. Another suspect, Tochukwu Onah, 39, was arrested by NDLEA officers at Paparanda, Lokoja on Thursday 15th August, 2024, with 1,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

    Across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students of College of Nursing Science, Awgu, Enugu state; traditional rulers in Umuahia North, Abia state; WADA advocacy visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunleye 111, Ondo state; and WADA advocacy visit to the Dein of Agbor, Dr. Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1, Delta state, among others.

    While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, PHPC, FCT, Kogi, Ogun, Ekiti, Kano, Enugu and Niger Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

  • NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicates, recovers multi-billion-naira drugs in nationwide raids

    NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicates, recovers multi-billion-naira drugs in nationwide raids

    Multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy duty automobile pivot shafts, and Ghanaian fabric, Kente, among others have been recovered in a nationwide intelligence-led operation by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

    While 2.32 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos on Monday 5th August 2024, 10.494kg of same class A drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814 kilograms.

    In the same vein, five other consignments going to the US, UK and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos on Friday 9th August 2024.

    They include 517 grams of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.

    In a different logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10kg coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.

    In another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 7th August arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Joseph Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos while attempting to move 9.00kg of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra state.

    Two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra state were also arrested on Thursday 8th August in a follow up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, Edo state same day.

    While the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865kg cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748kg cocaine and 514 grams sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117kg cocaine at Oba town.

    Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos on Wednesday 7th August intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25kg in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada. The seizure was made during 100% joint examination with men of Customs Service and other stakeholders.

    The following day, Thursday 8th August, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of same substance weighing 37.5kg in a container marked FSCU-9274613, that came from Canada.

    In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 8th August with the support of men of operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.200kg in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM.

    He claimed he was bringing the consignment from Edo state to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.

    While two suspects: Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on Tuesday 6th August with 29.5kg cannabis, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 1,169 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid road, Ajah on Sunday 4th August.

    No less than 1,230.00kg cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland at Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/ Odolu LGA, Kogi state on Friday 9th August by NDLEA officers supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested.

    With the same drive, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

    These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for women at Fowewe Sofuwa Islamic Centre, Saki, Oyo state; WADA sensitisation lecture and inauguration of community drug control committee at Nnando community, Anambra state; WADA advocacy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Kwara state; and WADA sensitisation lecture to members of Ansaru-ud-deen Muslim Society of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti, among others.

    While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Kogi, and Adamawa Commands as well as those of the Directorate of

    Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to continue with their current balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

  • Spain-bound cocaine consignment recovered from businessman’s sandals at MMIA

    Spain-bound cocaine consignment recovered from businessman’s sandals at MMIA

    A Spain based businessman, 50-year-old Francis Akajiobi, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, after parcels of cocaine weighing 1.20 kilograms were discovered in his pair of sandals while attempting to board his Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid, Spain.

    The two parcels of cocaine were concealed in the soles of a pair of black sandals Akajiobi was wearing to board his flight when NDLEA operatives intercepted him on Thursday 25th July 2024. During his preliminary interview, he claimed the consignment was delivered to him at a bar in Port Harcourt, Rivers state and was to deliver it to his friend and neighbour in Spain for a fee of Five Thousand Euros (€5,000) upon successful delivery to the recipient.

    In the same vein, a suspect: Makinde Sodiq Lekan has been arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 51.60kg that arrived the SAHCO Imports shed of the Lagos airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Canada via Istanbul, Turkey.

    Meanwhile, operatives of a Special Operations Unit targeting syndicates that specialize in shipping large consignments of opioids into neighbouring countries from where they attempt smuggling them into Nigeria in smaller quantities through transport companies, have arrested one of the kingpins, Chukwuemaka Obodozie. He was arrested in the early hours of Sunday 21st July at Cele bus stop along Oshodi-Apapa express road, Lagos with 100,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg loaded in two bags shortly after his arrival from Ghana via one of the transport companies plying the Lagos-Ghana route. The intelligence led operation followed five months of surveillance around Chukwuemeka.

    No fewer than 17 suspects were arrested on Friday 26th July when NDLEA operatives raided the Owena forest in Oriade LGA, Osun State, where they destroyed 31,250 kilograms of cannabis on 12.5 hectares of farmland, while 84kg of processed cannabis sativa was recovered along with a single barrel Dane gun. Those arrested include: Peter Osuya, 51; Zebron Ode, 46; Dogo Reuben Matthew, 35; Isaac Terna; Joseph David Lawrence, 27; Ugochukwu Victory, 24; Olamilekan Abolarin, 26; Dele Ayibo, 44; Ojo Moses, 21; Nini Ayila, 27; Msughve Clement, 23; Chuks Ogeneku, 40; Dada Aribo, 20; Uche Endurance, 30; Patrick Agba, 21; Osakwe Kennedy, 45; and Ojo Babatunde, 29.

    In Kaduna state, NDLEA operatives on stop and search patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway on Saturday 27th July intercepted a 32-year-old lady, Ubaida Aliyu in possession of 573 rounds of 7.60 live ammunition, which she claimed she was attempting to deliver to bandits in Sokoto.

    While a suspect, Godwin Udochukwu, 35, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 25,000 ampoules of Pentazocine injection by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway, another suspect, Alkasim Mikailu, 35, was nabbed in Kano on a follow up operation following the seizure of 37,880 ampoules of Diazepam injection along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    Two suspects: Abioye Adeniyi, 39, and Rafiu Lekan, 41, were arrested with 55 jumbo wraps of Ghana Loud by NDLEA operatives at Oloko along Badagry-Seme road, Lagos on Friday 26th July, while Samson Ifeayi Egwutouhi, 30, was nabbed same day by officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja express way with 20 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa that weighed 10.500kg. In Bauchi State, two suspects: Suleiman Yahaya, 50, and Ibrahim Bello (a.k.a Special), 35, were on Thursday 25th July arrested with 315 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 204.750kg along Maiduguri bye-pass, Bauchi town.

    With the same drive, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students of Government Secondary School, Gada, Sokoto state; pupils of Holy Trinity Primary School, Aroje, Ogbomoso, Oyo state; students of Holy Innocent Juniorate, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra state; students of Government Christian Secondary School, Shuwa Madagali, Adamawa state and commercial motorcycle riders at Oke Afo, Badagry Lagos state, among others.

    While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Osun, Bauchi, Kogi, Seme, and Kaduna Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) praised their pulverizing onslaught against drug cartels across the country. He also expressed delight in the balance of their drug supply reduction efforts with drug demand reduction activities while urging them not to rest on their oars.

  • US, UK, Europe-bound cocaine, opioids concealed in shoe soles, clothes seized in Lagos – NDLEA

    US, UK, Europe-bound cocaine, opioids concealed in shoe soles, clothes seized in Lagos – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids, such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, and ketamine injection, concealed in shoe soles, clothes, and other items being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom, and Cyprus. NDLEA officers discovered 250 grams of cocaine hidden in custom-made shoes bound for Cyprus and over five kilograms of opioids concealed in clothes and household items destined for the US and UK. Additionally, 440 grams of “Loud,” a synthetic strain of cannabis from Canada, was intercepted in a Lagos logistic company.

     

    On July 10, 2024, NDLEA operatives in Edo state intercepted a vehicle at Ewu junction, Esan Central LGA, seizing 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in custard containers. The suspect, Aminu Abdullahi, claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra state, and were to be sold in Mararaba, Abuja. In another operation on July 11, NDLEA officers raided Ohen forest in Abudu, Edo, destroying 5,429.751kg of cannabis and arresting four suspects. On July 13, an additional 300 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West LGA.

     

    In Ogun state, on July 9, 2,865 kilograms of cannabis were recovered in Afami Ibese, while the suspected owner remains at large. In a joint operation with the Nigerian Army in Konduga, Borno state, NDLEA operatives seized 2,455 kilograms of materials for producing Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance, on July 9. The next day, NDLEA officers in Katsina arrested Sabo Sule, 54, with 47kg of cannabis.

     

    On July 8, in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in VGC, Lekki, seizing 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide (laughing gas), 108 cartons of fast gas cylinders, 134 balloons, and 109 cartons of infusion chargers. A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam, was arrested.

     

    NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities continued nationwide in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. Recent activities included lectures at St. Louis Grammar School Senior, Mokola, Ibadan; Infant Jesus Model Secondary School, Oron; Ede High School, Ede; Government Day Secondary School, Kalga Gari, Daura; and Rehoboth Secondary School, Okpuno Awka.

     

    NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers in Edo, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Lagos, and FCT Commands, as well as DOGI, for their efforts in reducing drug supply and promoting WADA activities. He urged them to maintain the current momentum.

  • NDLEA arrests India-bound passenger who excreted 80 wraps of cocaine

    NDLEA arrests India-bound passenger who excreted 80 wraps of cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on March 31 for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

    Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that the passenger was to board a Doha-bound flight en-route Delhi using a Liberian passport with the name: Carr Bismark, when he was arrested.

    A body scan on the suspect revealed the ingestion of the illicit drugs, he explained.

    Babafemi added that preliminary checks showed the passenger’s real name to be Freeman Ogbonna.

    The NDLEA placed the passenger under observation and in a short while he started to manifest signs of discomfort.

    “Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch, vomited and excreted wraps of cocaine simultaneously.

    “The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives, eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine.

    “He vomited or excreted the drugs, weighing 889gms over a period of four days.

    “The great risk almost took his life.

    “Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ikeja with a promise of N300,000 reward if he successfully delivers the consignment in India,’’ Babafemi stated.

    Also on April 3, the NDLEA arrested a drug mule at the airport on his way to Oman.

    Its operatives discovered a false bottom in his backpack and on the sides concealing illicit drugs and also swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport.

    The second man was later discovered to have been the one who recruited the passenger to traffic the drugs.

    “The suspect said he returned from Dubai some years ago, but still had a valid residence permit on his passport.

    “He claimed he was promised N1.5 million if he successfully delivered the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, was to be paid N200,000.

    “A charm was found in one of the passenger’s bags when they were searched and another was found on his person.

    “The drug mule confessed that he travelled to Ibadan earlier where a cleric made the charms for him to evade arrest during the trip.

    “Another charm was found on the recruiter who claimed the charms were procured at a cost of N70,000,’’ Babafemi added.

  • NDLEA sniffer dogs uncover cocaine in India-bound shipment

    NDLEA sniffer dogs uncover cocaine in India-bound shipment

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) sniffer dogs have uncovered cocaine in an India-bound shipment at the cargo terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)  Ikeja, Lagos.

    The NDLEA spokesman said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that a consignment of spare parts that originated from Asaba, Delta, and going to Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, India was intercepted.

    Babafemi said that NDLEA sniffer dogs were deployed to examine the spare parts on Wednesday, Dec. 29, and were able to identify the particular shipment containing illicit drug concealment.

    “A physical examination later confirmed to be cocaine measuring 200 grams,” Babafemi said.

    Meanwhile, not less than 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of Indian hemp, with a gross weight of 35kg were seized by operatives of the Tincan Command of NDLEA from a container, marked BEAU 4993525 coming from Toronto via Montreal, Canada.

    Babafemi said the container contained four used vehicles, including a Honda CRV 2006 model, where bags of the psychoactive substance were concealed.

    “In the FCT Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Monday,  Dec. 18,  intercepted a waybill consignment of 25,000 pills of tramadol, while their counterparts in Anambra arrested two suspects at Onitsha head bridge.

    “Ejiro Emmanuel was driving a bus marked EFR 31 XB conveying 61,100 tramadol capsules; 1, 025 bottles of codeine; 1,350 tablets of rohypnol and 46 grams of designer drugs.

    “Daniel Ogbiyoyo was caught in a bus marked SAP 540 YK,  conveying 55,950 tramadol capsules; 3,117 bottles of codeine; 1,530 tablets of swinol, and 1,350 tablets of rohypnol, ” he said.

    Also, Operatives in Delta on Monday, Dec. 18,  in a joint operation with the military,  raided the home of a drug kingpin, Chukwuma Eneriku at Okanaro Street, Abbi town, where bags of cannabis weighing 353kg were recovered.

    “Same day, NDLEA operatives in Enugu recovered bags of Indian hemp weighing 435.1kg in a warehouse located at Trans Ekulu, Enugu East local government area.

    “In Edo,  five persons dressed in NDLEA operational jackets were arrested with a fabricated gun and pistol carved from wood following intelligence that they were impersonating as officers of the agency and conducting illegal operations.

    “The suspects include Sebastine Asekiamhe, 22; Raymond Otaru, 28; Emmanuel Wisdom, 23; Solomon Edogamhe, 27; and Bonaventure Oghibui, 22.

    “Some others in NDLEA jackets escaped, and a bottle of codeine-based syrup was found with those arrested,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests 67-year-old for ingesting cocaine to fund new marriage

    NDLEA arrests 67-year-old for ingesting cocaine to fund new marriage

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine, a criminal enterprise he claimed he ventured into to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh after wasting 30 years of his life in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand.

    Femi Babafemi Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja on Sunday said Chukwuemeka was arrested on Tuesday 3rd October during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight 951 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and taken for body scan, which revealed multiple pellets in his stomach. While under observation, he excreted a total of 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.195 kilograms in four excretions.

    “In his statement, he claimed to have spent 30 years in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand, while he was once married, but lost his wife and without a child. He added that was why he decided to go into drug trafficking to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh.

    “On the same day, Tuesday 3rd October, NDLEA operatives at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, intercepted a 45-year-old woman, Bilkisu Mohammed Bello while preparing to board a Saudia Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia.

    “While being interviewed, she confessed that pellets of cocaine given to her to swallow before her flight were kept in a house in Farawa area of Kano. When she led NDLEA officers to the house, 52 wraps of the illicit substance with a total weight of 767grams were recovered.
    Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives supported by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Corps and Amotekun personnel on Tuesday 3rd October stormed James town, in Ogunmakin, Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state where they located and destroyed 10.38 tonnes of cannabis sativa covering over 4.152 hectares.

    “While on their way back from the operation, the team also intercepted a truck marked FS548XN carrying a 40ft container loaded with logs of wood. A search of the container led to the recovery of two bags of cannabis sativa weighing 20kgs while six suspects: Ahmed Yusuf, Olaniyi Babatunde, Adedeji Babatunde, Richard John, Osolale Olamilekan and Abdulazeez Saied, in the truck were arrested.

    “In the same vein, operatives on Sunday 1st October raided Obi camp in Owan West LGA, Edo state where 30 sacks of skunk weighing 300kgs and concealed in charcoal were evacuated from an old dilapidated mud house. Similarly, two cannabis farms measuring 1.179065 hectares at Igbanke forest in Orhiowon local government area of the state were identified and destroyed on Friday 6th October while four suspects: Tersoo Zaria, 28; Ifeanyi Osai, 53; Moses David, 19, and Daniel Gabriel, 20, were arrested.

    “In Gombe state, a suspect, Auwal Bindow was arrested on Friday 6th October along Bauchi – Gombe road with 50,000 capsules of tramadol, while in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway nabbed Anuoluwapo Blessing Iyanu, 32, with 52 blocks of compressed pawpaw shaped cannabis sativa weighing 30kgs on Wednesday 4th October.

    “With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Igbonnibi High School, Ila Orangun, Osun state; WADA sensitisation lecture at Royal Ambassador Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue state; WADA sensitization lecture at Ilora Baptist Grammar School, Ilora, Oyo state and LGA WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Beth-Root Model Secondary School, Onitsha, Anambra state.

    “While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MAKIA, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, and Gombe Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”

     

  • India-bound ‘couple’ excretes 184 wraps of cocaine

    India-bound ‘couple’ excretes 184 wraps of cocaine

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested a fake couple, Kingsley and Roseline Ilonzeh for ingesting 184 wraps of cocaine.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that the suspected drug traffickers were purportedly going for medical treatment in India.

    Babafemi said that the drugs weigh 3.322Kg, while another 100 grammes of the drug was concealed in the woman’s private part.

    He said that the two suspects were intercepted at the Screening Point 1, Terminal 1 of the international wing of the Lagos airport on Aug. 1, while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to India.

    Babafemi further said that though their travel documents showed consistency in their names and depicted them as couple, an NDLEA officer however, decided to subject them to body scan.

    He said that the scan confirmed the couple ingested drugs as a result of which they were later placed on excretion observation at the agency’s facility.

    ”Their travel documents identify the man as Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and the lady to be Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum,

    “Preliminary investigation reveals that the intending passengers are not a couple but obtained the travel documents in the same surname to beat security checks at the airport.

    “The lady later gave her real name as Ngogbike Nkechi. During interview, she confessed that she was recruited in her Church in Aba, Abia where she lives.

    “The suspect, Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) states further that she is a divorcee and that Kingsley, with whom she is travelling is not her husband but connected only for the purpose of the illicit drug business trip.

    “She said that Kingsley, her arranged husband brought the pellets of cocaine to ingest her in the hotel where they both lodged in separate rooms on July, 31, ” he said.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said that after their arrest, a thorough search conducted on her led to the discovery of a big size wrap of cocaine that weighed 100 grammes which she inserted into her private part.

    He said that the suspected drug trafficker confessed that she was promised $5,000 upon successful delivery of the drug in India.

    Babafemi said that in his own statement, Kingsley, who was into clothing business in Onitsha, Anambra claimed he was promised $2,000 after a successful delivery of the drug in India.

    “A further search of the agency’s crime database reveals that Kingsley also obtained his travel documents with fake identity for the trip.

    “Indeed, it has been established that he was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on March 19, 2022, for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243kgs upon his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on board an Ethiopian airline flight.

    “His travel documents then contained his real name: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian,” he said.

    He noted that after his arrest at the Abuja airport on March 19, 2022, with another suspect, Iro Elvis Uche, who also ingested 65 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.376kgs, Uwaezuoke was subsequently arraigned.

    Babafemi said that he was arraigned before Justice Zainab Abubakar of the Federal High Court Abuja with charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022.

    He said that the suspect was eventually granted bail by the court, pending the conclusion of his trial.

    ”He is still on the court bail when he was arrested at the Lagos airport for a similar offence on  Aug. 1.

    “Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi (aka Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian) excreted a total of 82 wraps of cocaine with a gross weight of 1.822kgs in five excretions.

    “Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum (aka Ngogbike Nkechi) ingested 101 wraps in four excretions with a big size wrap of the substance recovered from her private part, all weighing 1.50kgs, ” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests Surinamese man with cocaine concealed in condoms

    NDLEA arrests Surinamese man with cocaine concealed in condoms

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 34-year-old South American man from Suriname, Dadda Lorenzo Harvy Albert, for drug trafficking.

    The Director, Media, and Advocacy (NDLEA), Mr Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Rivers state, for bringing into Nigeria 117 parcels of cocaine.

    He said that the drugs were concealed in extra-large latex condoms factory packed inside bottles of 100ml body spray.

    He also said that the suspect claimed he departed his country, Suriname, located in the North Eastern coast of South America on April 2 for Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    He added that he departed from Sao Paulo to Nigeria on Friday on April 7, on board Qatar Airways flight in search of his long-lost Nigerian father whom he called “Omini.”

    In the same vein, NDLEA officers at Tincan seaport in Lagos intercepted 110 parcels of Colorado.

    Babafemi said that the strain of cannabis, weighing 55kg, were hidden in a container, marked MSCU 4972769 from Toronto via Montreal, Canada.

    He said that the illicit consignment was discovered in the container bearing five units of used vehicles, during a joint examination of the cargo by NDLEA and other port stakeholders.

    “The seizure was part of a total of 1,559.3 kilograms (1.5 tons) of the psychoactive substance seized during interdiction operations in five states in the past week,”he said.

    Meanwhile, two suspects: Nura Ibrahim, 40, and Habibu Sadiq, 38, were arrested with 120 blocks of cannabis, weighing 148.7kg, along Zaria-Kano road on Sunday, April 2.

    Babafemi said that not less than 418.5kg of the same substance and a sienna space bus used in conveying it were recovered on Thursday, April 6, at a notorious drug hub, Patey, Lagos Island.

    “A suspect, Azi Solomon, was arrested same day at Ojota garage while attempting to move 23kg cannabis to another state,” he said.