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Tag: Cocaine

  • NDLEA arrests wanted Abia drug supplier, seizes 100kg of cocaine, cannabis

    NDLEA arrests wanted Abia drug supplier, seizes 100kg of cocaine, cannabis

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious major supplier of illicit drugs in Abia with over 100kg cocaine and cannabis sativa.

    The Agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Babafemi said that the suspect, Chibuike Apolos, was arrested on April 21 during an early morning raid of his hideout at Mbausi in Isialangwa North area of the state.

    According to him, Apolos has been on the wanted list of the NDLEA command in Abia since February, following the arrest of one Chima Ukeleonu, the suspect behind the video that went viral in January 2021, showing a young man hawking illicit drugs on the street.

    “As a result, 38-year-old Apolos was put on wanted list. Following his arrest in the early hours of Wednesday, the Abia Government has already marked his house that serves as his hideout for demolition.

    “The command in Abia has been on his trail since February. Fortunately we got a tip-off that he just received some quantities of cannabis from Edo.

    “Notwithstanding the tense security situation in the south east especially Abia , the command still embarked on the operations which culminated in the arrest of Apolos.

    “And, he was found with 10 bags of cannabis weighing 100kg, 1.6 grammes of cocaine, one gramme of heroin and five grammes of methamphetamine.

    “The suspect is one of the major suppliers of illicit drugs in Abia especially in the Isialangwa communities. The state governor has been notified and his building has been marked for demolition, ” he said.

    In a similar development, the NDLEA command in Taraba arrested 61-year-old Lawan Gambo Umar for trafficking 58.50kg of cannabis sativa.

    Babafemi said that the suspect was taking the skunk concealed inside sacks of beans chaff used to feed animals to Fune in Yobe when operatives of the NDLEA intercepted him.

    Reacting to the two developments, the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the Abia and Taraba commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests.

    Marwa urged them to sustain the current tempo of offensive action to rid the country of illicit substances.

    “No doubt, the volume that has been seized in these two operations is less the kilogramme meant for our towns and communities.

    ” I therefore urge our officers and men across all the commands all over the country to continue to smoke all the elements involved in this criminal trade out of their hiding places, ” he said.

  • Amazing! Suspected drug trafficker excretes 113 wraps of cocaine worth N423m

    Amazing! Suspected drug trafficker excretes 113 wraps of cocaine worth N423m

    A suspected drug trafficker, Okonkwo Chimezie Henry, has excreted 113 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.750 kg with a street value of N423 million.

    This followed his arrest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday 4th April, 2021, where he was headed for Madrid, Spain.

    Director, Media & Advocacy, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed these in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    He said: “Okonkwo was about boarding a Turkish Airline flight number TK0626 at about 8pm when he was apprehended at screening 2 point and taken into custody by the NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport. He was subsequently put under observation at the JBTF/NDLEA facility for further investigation.

    “Twenty four hours after putting him under excretion observation, the suspect who has been living in Spain for 10 years excreted 39 wraps of cocaine and subsequently passed out a total of 113 wraps in five exretions.

    “Further investigation reveals he ingested the illicit drug in a hotel in Igando area of Lagos.”

    The statement quoted the Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, to have said: “The suspect excreted 39 wraps weighing 600 grammes at 9.58am on April 5; 13 wraps weighing 200 grammes at 6.30pm same day; 16 wraps weighing 250 grammes at 10.30pm same day; and 32 wraps weighing 500 grammes at 7.30am on April 6.”

    Babafemi said operatives at the airport also intercepted a 2.8kg of skunk meant for Dubai in UAE through Emirate Airline.

    The illicit drug was concealed in crayfish, bitter leaves and melons packaged in a sack but was recovered at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA, he said.

     

  • Drug trafficker excretes N423m cocaine at Lagos Airport [Photo]

    Drug trafficker excretes N423m cocaine at Lagos Airport [Photo]

    A Madrid, Spain-bound suspected drug trafficker, Okonkwo Chimezie Henry, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos on Easter day, Sunday 4 April 2021, has excreted a total of 113 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.750kg with a street value of N423m.

    Okonkwo was about boarding a Turkish Airline flight number TK0626 at about 8 pm when he was apprehended at screening 2 point and taken into custody by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s operatives at the Lagos airport.

    The spokesman of the agency, Mr Femi Babafemi, said that the suspect was subsequently put under observation at the JBTF/NDLEA facility for further investigation.

    “Twenty four hours after putting him under excretion observation, the suspect, who has been living in Spain for 10 years, excreted 39 wraps of cocaine and subsequently passed out a total of 113 wraps in five excretions.

    “Further investigation reveals he ingested the illicit drug in a hotel in Igando area of Lagos,” Babafemi said.

    He also quoted the Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, as saying, “The suspect excreted 39 wraps weighing 600 grammes at 9.58am on April 5; 13 wraps weighing 200 grammes at 6.30pm same day; 16 wraps weighing 250 grammes at 10.30pm same day; and 32 wraps weighing 500 grammes at 7.30am on April 6.”

    Meanwhile, operatives at the airport have also intercepted a 2.8kg of skunk meant for Dubai, UAE, through the Emirate Airline.

    The illicit drug was concealed in crayfish; bitter leaves and melons packaged in a sack but was recovered at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended officers and men of the MMIA Command of the agency for not allowing criminal elements to take advantage of the Easter holiday to further their illicit trade, and dent Nigeria’s image abroad.

    Marwa said, “We all must stay committed to the ongoing offensive action at the airports, seaports, land borders, on the streets of Nigerian cities and across the various drug joints and even in the forests where some are hiding to cultivate and process cannabis sativa.

    “We must disrupt their illicit trade and dismantle their cartels.”

  • NDLEA uncovers heroin, cocaine at palace of Anambra monarch

    NDLEA uncovers heroin, cocaine at palace of Anambra monarch

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has uncovered cocaine and heroin concealed in the palace of a traditional ruler in Anambra state.

    The drug enforcement agency released a statement to this effect through Femi Babafemi, its director of media and advocacy.

    The agency said its operatives at the Anambra command recovered 58.5 grammes of cocaine and 13.9 grammes of heroin.

    Although the NDLEA did not mention the name of the traditional ruler, it said security personnel at the palace are helping to trace the owner of the consignment.

    “In a related development, operatives of the Anambra State Command of the Agency have recovered 58.5 grammes of cocaine and 13.9 grammes of heroine concealed in the palace of a prominent traditional ruler in the state,” Babafemi said in a statement on Monday.

    “Investigations are on-going to unravel how the illicit drugs were hidden in the palace and the palace security guards are helping in tracing the dealer behind the consignment, Muhammadu Misbahu Idris, the Anambra state Commander of the NDLEA stated.”

    Babafemi said operatives of the agency also nabbed Hassan Taiwo, “a notorious trafficker”, with three parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom of his luggage at the Lagos airport.

    Taiwo was said to have been arrested at the weekend by operatives attached to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

    The alleged trafficker had arrived in the country from Addis Abba, Ethiopia, on Friday.

    The agency said it discovered that the suspect had been engaging in the “criminal trade through some Middle East countries”.

    “A notorious drug trafficker, Hassan Bishi Taiwo has been arrested by operatives of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with three parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom created in his suitcase,” the statement said.

    “Preliminary investigations reveal that Hassan who was intercepted at the E-Arrival hall of the MMIA at the weekend upon arrival on board Ethiopian airlines at 1:30pm Friday has been plying the illicit trade through the middle east routes for some time.”

  • NDLEA arrests notorious drug trafficker with 3 parcels of cocaine at Lagos airport

    NDLEA arrests notorious drug trafficker with 3 parcels of cocaine at Lagos airport

    A notorious drug trafficker, Hassan Bishi Taiwo has been arrested by operatives of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with three parcels of cocaine concealed in a false bottom created in his suitcase.

    Preliminary investigations reveal that Hassan who was intercepted at the E-Arrival hall of the MMIA at the weekend upon arrival on board Ethiopian airlines at 1:30pm Friday, has been plying the illicit trade through the middle east routes for sometime.

    According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the Agency, Ahmadu Garba, “the suspect came in to Nigeria through Addis-Ababa but he actually travelled to Addis-Ababa from Abuja.

    Upon a thorough search, we discovered another ticket on him while our findings also show that he has been plying his criminal trade through some Middle East countries.”

    In a related development, operatives of the Anambra state Command of the Agency have recovered 58.5 grammes of cocaine and 13.9 grammes of heroine concealed in the palace of a prominent traditional ruler in the state.

    “Investigations are on-going to unravel how the illicit drugs were hidden in the palace and the palace security guards are helping in tracing the dealer behind the consignment”, Muhammadu Misbahu Idris, the Anambra state Commander of the NDLEA stated.

    In the same vein, narcotic officers attached to a courier company in Lagos have intercepted 500grammes of unaccompanied cocaine going to the United Arab Emirates and concealed inside the walls of packed cartons containing clothes. The operatives also intercepted in another courier firm one kilogramme of cannabis concealed in cream bottles going to UAE while 500grammes of ketamine hidden in artefacts and going to the US was also recovered from the same company in Lagos. Equally, another 480grammes of unaccompanied methamphetamine going to China was recovered from the same courier campany.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the Commanders, men and officers involved in the operations for their vigilance and charged them to continue with the vigour the offensive action maxim of the new leadership of the lead anti-drug agency.

     

     

  • NDLEA seizes cocaine worth over N32bn in Tincan Port

    NDLEA seizes cocaine worth over N32bn in Tincan Port

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has Intercepted 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, with an estimated street value of over N32 billion at the Tincan Port, Lagos.
    The Commander, Tincan Port command, NDLEA, Mr Sumaila Ethan disclosed this in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs,Mr Jonah Achema in Abuja.
    Ethan noted that the agency had continued its offensive action against drug barons and cartels in Nigeria with the latest seizure in recent times.
    He said that the consignment containing the illicit drug was put under surveillance by operatives of the Tincan Command of the NDLEA for some days until two clearing agents showed up on Feb. 8, to clear it.
    Ethan said the two clearing agents have been promptly arrested and the consignment, which was brought into Nigeria from Bazil on board a vessel marked MV SPAR SCORPIO, properly searched.
    “After a thorough search, we discovered 40 compressed parcels, which after laboratory investigations tested positive to cocaine.
    “The two clearing agents have been taken into custody while we continue with the investigation.
    “The seizure is no doubt an attestation to the renewed vigour in the operations of the agency.
    “We appreciate our Chairman, rtd Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, who provided guidance all through the operations”, the commander,
    Ethan stated that the Tincan port seizure was coming on the heels of similar ones at the Lagos and Abuja airports as well as from the FCT, Edo, Katsina State, Nasarawa State and Benue state Commands in the last three weeks.
    He commended the commander, officers and men of the Tincan Port Command for the operation.
    “We’ll continue to do our best to motivate the officers and men of the agency, and we expect full commitment, dedication to work and discipline in return so that we can collectively achieve the goal of ridding our nation of illicit drugs”, he stated.
  • NDLEA seizes cocaine worth N32bn at Lagos Port

    NDLEA seizes cocaine worth N32bn at Lagos Port

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday said its offensive against drug barons and cartels in the country has yielded another positive result with the seizure of 40 parcels of cocaine weighing 43.11kg, with an estimated street value of N32 billion.

    According to the Commander, Tincan Port Command of the NDLEA, Sumaila Ethan, the consignment containing the illicit drug had been placed under surveillance by operatives at the Tincan Command for some days until two clearing agents showed up on Monday to clear it.

    He said the two clearing agents were immediately arrested and the consignment, which was brought into Nigeria from Brazil onboard a vessel marked MV Spar Scorpio, properly searched.

    The Tincan port seizure is coming on the heels of similar discoveries at the Lagos and Abuja airports, as well as from the FCT, Edo, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Benue State Commands within the last three weeks.

  • Photo: Plane overloaded with cocaine crashes on take-off

    Photo: Plane overloaded with cocaine crashes on take-off

    A light aircraft overloaded with cocaine crashed on take-off on its way to Australia, police said on Saturday, exposing a Melbourne-based crime syndicate and leading to the arrest of five men with alleged links to the Italian mafia.

    The Cesna aircraft, which was stuffed with more than 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) of cocaine, went down while attempting to leave a remote airstrip in Papua New Guinea on July 26.

    Australian Federal Police said in a statement that “greed played a significant part in the syndicate’s activities” and added they “cannot rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the planes (sic) ability to take off.”
    Five suspects were arrested in Queensland and Victoria in recent days, and have been charged with conspiring to import over 500 kilograms of cocaine and a number of related offenses. They each face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. The pilot was also arrested two days later, after surrendering himself to police.
    Authorities said the plane had flown to Papua New Guinea from the small town of Mareeba in Far North Queensland, flying at about 3,000 feet to avoid detection by radar.

    The cocaine stash was eventually found on Friday after a search of the area. Its total value was estimated to be around 80 million Australian dollars ($57M USD), the equivalent of about 500,000 street deals.

    “With current interstate travel restrictions in place due to COVID-19, the attempt to import illicit drugs into Australia shows how opportunistic and greedy organised crime can be,” AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney said in a statement.

    The arrested men — aged 31, 36, 31, 33, and 61 — were charged with a variety of crimes. The first man arrested faces charges of directing activities of a criminal syndicate and money laundering of over $1m AUD. A number of assets were seized by police, with an estimated total value of $3.5 million AUD.

    The drugs bust is one of the largest in recent Australian history. In 2016, a similar-sized 500 kilogram haul of cocaine was seized by officers in New South Wales.

  • ‘I sold Club World Cup medal to buy cocaine, it lasted two days’

    ‘I sold Club World Cup medal to buy cocaine, it lasted two days’

    Former Sao Paulo defender Flavio Donizete has revealed the extent of a cocaine addiction that led him to sell his most prized possession in order to fund his habit.

    Donizete came through the ranks at Morumbi as a teenager, and his second season with the club coincided with one of the most successful years in Tricolor history.

    He played a bit part throughout 2005 as Sao Paulo lifted the Paulista State Championship and the Copa Libertadores before crowning their achievement with victory over Liverpool in the Club World Cup.

    The centre-back only made the cut for the tournament thanks to an injury to Leandro Bonfim and did not see any playing time as Mineiro’s solitary goal saw off the Reds.

    His medal commemorating the victory, however, was sacrificed to feed an addiction that ruined what was one a promising career.

    “I sold it to buy drugs. I sold it for 7,000 reais (around £2,875/$3,500),” he explained to Globoesporte.

    “When I sold it the money came and I blew almost all of it on cocaine. The first delivery was 1,000 reais of cocaine. I used it in two days. The more money I had, the more drugs I wanted.

    “After I was acquainted with cocaine, I lost everything else. Because at the start I was a moderate user. Until cocaine became more important in my life, I started to lose everything I had. Any money saved I used to buy drugs. I wouldn’t let myself be without drugs. Morning, afternoon and evening I had to take cocaine.

    “Any money in my account, my possessions, I started losing them. I lost everything, except my wife, daughters and family, who are still with me even today.”

    Culled from Goal

  • Photo: Togo-bound $1b cocaine shipment seized

    A record shipment of more than $1billion cocaine bound for Togo, near Nigeria, has been intercepted by Uruguayan authorities.

    It was the largest shipment of drugs in the country’s history, the National Customs Directorate announced on Friday.

    The director of the national customs, Jorge Borgiani, said at a press conference that at least 4,417 kilograms of cocaine was seized in the port of Montevideo.

    He said that the drugs were disguised as soy flour and hidden across three shipping containers.

    “There is still one more container left to open,” Borgiani said. The amount of cocaine counted from the first two containers alone is believed to be worth around 1 billion U.S. dollars.

    The drugs discovery and seizure operation, jointly carried out by the National Customs Directorate and the National Naval Prefecture, occurred on Thursday afternoon.

    The shipment containing the drugs was destined for the port city of Lome, the capital of Togo.

    The Uruguayan Navy also stated that this operation will be “the biggest blow to drug trafficking in the history of the country.”

    In November in the port of Montevideo, authorities discovered a container with more than three tons of cocaine, also destined for Africa.