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Tag: NDLEA

  • We seized hard drugs worth N80bn in two months – NDLEA

    We seized hard drugs worth N80bn in two months – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said its operatives seized illicit drugs worth N80 billion in the past three months.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd) said this when the acting Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, visited him at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Marwa, who reached 100 days in office on Wednesday, said over two million kilogrammes of various illicit drugs have been seized by the Agency within the period.

    He said 2,100 persons were arrested and 350 convictions have been secured.

    He said the IGP’s visit was timely, calling for renewed collaboration between the Agency and police, especially as the use of drugs is the major reason for to criminal activities in Nigeria.

    “The need for the collaboration is further strengthened as we move to our next phase where we are targeting the barons. Most of these barons would come into our net because we have been working and we believe the police would support us,” he said.

    He called for support in the areas of with intelligence tracking, training and support, among others.

    He assured the Agency will uphold the presidential mandate to mop up all illicit substances and make Nigeria a drug-free country.

    Baba described the NDLEA as an integral part of policing in the country.

    He pledged the police would work closely with the agency to ensure law and order.

    “I am here to assure you of our unalloyed cooperation, synergy and collaboration with the agency in order to police this country. Behind every crime there is always the issue of drugs,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests two drug traffickers with cocaine worth N264million

    NDLEA arrests two drug traffickers with cocaine worth N264million

    A trans-border trafficker, Emeka Okoro and another drug dealer, Ibrahim Bello have been arrested in Abuja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), with cocaine weighing 1.1kilogramme, which has a street value of N264million.

    While Okoro was intercepted with 900grammes of cocaine in a commercial bus along Abuja-Gwagwalada road on Monday based on intelligence, Bello was nabbed with 200grammes of the illicit drug in Zuba area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, same-day through a controlled delivery operation.

    According to the Commander, FCT Command of the agency, Mohammed Malami Sokoto, Okoro was an intending traveller to Libya through Kano and Agadez in Niger Republic, with wraps of cocaine weighing 900 grammes while the other seizure of 200 grammes was equally made following intelligence on the 26th April 2021.

    “The wraps of cocaine were not to be swallowed as has always been the case, but to be concealed in Jerry cans of palm oil and transported through the border in Kano to Agadez and Libya. The suspect, Emeka Okoro revealed that this has been the trend in the past months,” the FCT Commander of NDLEA disclosed.

    Meanwhile, the Kogi State Command of the Agency has intercepted and seized 157.5kilogrammes of skunk concealed in false panels in a Peugeot J5 bus with registration number Lagos AGL 641 XW while a 43-year-old suspect, Christian Godwin was arrested.

    According to the Commander, Kogi state Command of the Agency, Adewunmi Alfred, the suspect and his consignment were intercepted at a patrol point in Lokoja, the state capital.

    “The skunk was sourced from Ikire in Osun state and heading to Masaka in Nasarawa state before our men arrested the suspect, seized the illicit drug and the vehicle used to convey it on Monday 26th April 2021,” Alfred said.

    In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended officers and men of the FCT and Kogi state Commands of the Agency for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding the country of illicit drugs.

    “These seizures and arrests in FCT and Kogi point to the fact that we’ll continue to disrupt and dismantle the drug supply networks of these unconscionable elements and deny them the benefit of their illegal trade,” Gen. Marwa said.

  • Photo: NDLEA uncovers, seizes drugs concealed in statue of Blessed Virgin Mary

    Photo: NDLEA uncovers, seizes drugs concealed in statue of Blessed Virgin Mary

    Dare-devil narcotics couriers who used the statue of Mary, Mother of Jesus, to conceal their illicit drugs have met their waterloo in Lagos.

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) embedded in two courier companies intercepted the drugs concealed in the statue and some in auto spare parts to be dispatched to Canada and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, stated on Saturday in Abuja that 140grammes of Methamphetamine packaged in the statue of Mary was seized in one of the courier companies.

    The drug was to be delivered in The Philippines.

    Babafemi added that 500grammes of heroin concealed in auto spare parts heading to Canada were also intercepted at a second courier company.

    He stated also that a package of 3.1 kg of Indian hemp concealed inside spices, and another package of one kilogramme of Indian hemp concealed inside local herbs were seized.

    The two packages were to be delivered at the UAE,

    In a related development, the NDLEA arrested 31 suspects in Ondo State for being in possession of 276 kg of assorted illicit drugs. Those arrested included seven females.

    They were arrested during a two-week raid which began on April 6.

    Babafemi said that the sting operations were carried out to curb the increasing rate of drug abuse among youths and even the elderly in Ondo State.

    He added that the illicit drugs seized were 74.285kgs of Indian hemp, 267grammes of other psychotropic substances; 201kgs of “skuchies’’ (a combination of Indian hemp, tramadol, ethanol, and “Zobo’’).

    NDLEA dismantled or destroyed most of the vending spots where the drugs were being dispensed, he said.

    In Akwa Ibom, the NDLEA also seized 62.150kg of illicit drugs in Oron and Uyo.

    Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Commander in the state, Mrs Obot Bassey, as saying that four suspects were arrested in two sting operations conducted on April 22 and April 23.

    He stated that NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, had commended operatives in the two states and those of Operations and General Investigations Directorate in Lagos for their steadfastness.

  • 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.

  • NDLEA captures undergraduate who sells drugged cookie’ to school kids

    NDLEA captures undergraduate who sells drugged cookie’ to school kids

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two Abuja-based lovers who allegedly specialized in selling drugged cookies to school children and other residents.

    In a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s media director, on Tuesday, the agency said the suspected drug dealers namely Rhoda Agboje, who is a 300 level university student, and Ifeanyi Nwankwo, her boyfriend, were arrested on Sunday.

    The agency said the duo are part of a syndicate involved in the production of the cookies with Arizona, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis; alcohol; and Rohypnol, among other ingredients.

    The NDLEA also said it has launched a manhunt for another member of the syndicate.

    According to the agency, the undertakings of the group were exposed after Agboje was arrested at the NNPC cooperative estate, opposite Gaduwa estate in Abuja, with four pieces of the cookies.

    The agency said the arrest was based on a complaint that she gave an unsuspecting young girl the cookies to eat after which the kid lost her mind, could not sleep and started making incoherent utterances due to its effects.

    During questioning, Agboje was said to have confessed that she prepares the cookies with a friend and sells a pack of three pieces at N1,500.

    The agency added that “a follow-up in her boyfriend’s house also led to the recovery of over 200 pieces of the drug.”

     

    According to the statement, Mohammed Sokoto, NDLEA’s FCT commander, who spoke about the incident, said: “The boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, and all the equipment used for the production of the cookies were brought to the office for further investigation.

    “The suspect confirmed that she sells at parties and to unsuspecting members of the public, including school children that are the most vulnerable. The suspect also supplies some supermarkets and clubs in the FCT,” he added

    Mohamed Marwa, NDLEA chairman, praised officers of the FCT command for unraveling the syndicate.

    He said what the syndicate was doing is not only criminal but equally unconscionable by deliberately luring schoolchildren into drugs under the cover of selling to them biscuits or cookies.

    “I wish to draw the attention of parents to this new devious strategy to get children addicted to drug cookies and to urge them to remain vigilant while monitoring what their wards bring home or consume as a snack,” he said.

     

  • Your plans will boomerang— CDQ curses those behind NDLEA ordeal

    Your plans will boomerang— CDQ curses those behind NDLEA ordeal

    Popular rapper, Sodiq Yusuf better known as CDQ, has cursed those behind his recent arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the ‘Moyan’ crooner was arrested at his Lagos home on Wednesday over alleged possession of cannabis.

    Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, had stated that the entertainer was arrested following an intelligence report.

    But reacting to the development in a Twitter post, the artiste alleged that he was being setup, noting that any plot against him would boomerang on those behind it and their family.

     

    CDQ also alleged that the arrest was a calculated move by some people to tarnish the reputation he has built for years.

    “My mum just said I don’t have anyone but I have God. I’m a sinner but I have never tried to bring others down. Let God fight for you. Whoever is behind all these false accusations it shall, boomerang on them and their family. They can’t spoil time name I built with sweat and blood. Yeh Yeh,” he wrote in a mixture of English and Yoruba.

     

  • Alleged cannabis possession: CDQ granted bail, still under investigation ― NDLEA

    Alleged cannabis possession: CDQ granted bail, still under investigation ― NDLEA

    Nigerian rapper, CDQ has been granted bail by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, though he remains under investigation.

    TheNewsGuru reports that on Wednesday, the ‘Ibile Mugabe’ crooner was arrested by NDLEA operatives in his Lekki residence.

    He was said to have been arrested by the anti-drug enforcement agency for allegedly violating the drug law following an intelligence report.

    NDLEA’s Director, Media, and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed his arrest, saying the case was still being probed as some substance known as ‘loud’ ― a cannabis variant was found in the rapper’s house.

    Babafemi said, “Yes, CDQ was arrested in his house at Lekki for being in possession of cannabis. He was arrested based on intelligence. As of last night, he was granted administrative bail, but he is expected back into custody today because it is an ongoing investigation.

    Some substances were found and he mentioned some names of some other big artistes. So, it is an ongoing investigation.The outcome of the investigation would determine what would happen. There are cases whereby the investigation shows some sufficient infractions, and then the case will go to court. There are other cases whereby if the quantity is insignificant, we will bring him in for counselling and possible rehabilitation. Those are likely scenarios that will happen”, he told Punch.

    CDQ however took to his Instagram page on Wednesday night insinuating that someone was trying to set him up.
    He wrote, “No sleep for the wicked. Iyalaya yin o ni sun for dis Lagos… They tryna set me up today but Olohun wa.”(sic)

     

  • NDLEA intercepts N2bn worth of illicit drugs at Lagos airport

    NDLEA intercepts N2bn worth of illicit drugs at Lagos airport

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted illicit drugs worth over N2 billion at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos with three suspected traffickers arrested.

    One of the suspects, Aniede Chimezie Bright was arrested on Sunday 28th March 2021, during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Marroc, with 7.1 Kg of Methamphetamine carefully concealed in food spices and packed in a Swiss polo suit case.

    The illicit substance was bound for Spain with street value of over N2 billion.

    According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, “Unarguably, the closure of borders occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the surge in the price of these drugs. For instance, the price of meth in Australia had increased from 200 dollars to 600 dollars per gramme due to supply cut, hence the desperation by the traffickers and barons alike.”

    In a related development, the Command equally intercepted one Bamidele Babatunde Adeyemo at SAHCO export shed of the airport with 800 grammes of cannabis sativa while operatives also seized 19.950kg of green leaves suspected to be khat. The cannabis cleverly concealed in foodstuff was bound for Dubai, UAE.

    In a follow up operation, one Asonye Christian was arrested in connection to the seizure 800 grammes of cannabis, while investigations are ongoing with a view to establishing more leads and getting the owner of the khat leaves arrested.

    While commending the men and officers of the MMIA Command for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the Agency remained committed to its new maxim of offensive action against the activities of drug barons and traffickers.

  • 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.