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Tag: NDLEA

  • NDLEA arrests 103 suspected drug traffickers

    The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has arrested 103 suspects for trafficking illicit drugs.
    Mr Peter Ogar, Head of Operations and Intelligence in the command, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday.
    Ogar said the suspects, comprised of 88 males and 15 females, were arrested between July and September in various parts of the state.
    He explained that more than 4,000 kilograms of suspected Indian hemp was seized within the period while 14 farmlands of about 10 hectares cultivated with the plant, were destroyed.
    Ogar however said that the command had rehabilitated 79 drug addicts who had reunited with their families, while two are still undergoing intensive rehabilitation.
    “It is peak period for traffickers because it is the harvest season,” he noted, adding that this has led to upsurge in arrest of suspects and seizures by the agency.
    The Assistant Commander disclosed that the NDLEA had filed 18 cases in courts within the period, while several others are pending.
    NAN

  • NDLEA arrests illicit drug traffickers in Edo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command says it arrested 41 persons for allegedly trafficking in illicit drugs in the state in April.

    Mr Peter Ogar, the Assistant Commander and Head, Operations and Intelligence of the Command to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Benin on Monday.

    Ogar said that the suspects, including a distributor of codeine, were arrested for drug offences ranging from possession, peddling and consumption in various parts of the state.

    According to him, the suspects include 33 males and eight females.

    He said within the period under review, 449.2 Kilogrammes of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa and 18.64 Kilogrammes of suspected Psychotropic substance were seized.

    Ogar also said that four farms where substance suspected to be cannabis sativa was being cultivated were also destroyed within the period.

    The assistant commander said the command would leave no stone unturned in ridding the state of illicit drug activities.

    He commended the Federal Government for banning codeine, adding that in Edo; the abuse of codeine and codeine based drugs by students in secondary and tertiary institutions was rapidly increasing.

    Ogar expressed optimism that with the backing of the Federal Government, the agency would ensure that patent medicine dealers and the Pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria enforce total compliance.

    “So in effect, NDLEA can now enforce and charge any person in custody of codeine accordingly in line with the laws of the agency.’’

    The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC to ban with immediate effect importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

    Experts say codeine syrup used in treatment of cough, when abused, could lead to full-fledged addiction that is potentially deadly.

    The Minister of Health, Pro. Isaac Adewole gave directive last Tuesday in Abuja.

     

  • NDLEA operatives shoot pupil, guard, two others in Lagos Island raid

    No fewer than four persons, including a pupil and a security guard of Dolphin High School, Lagos Island, have been reportedly shot by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

    The pupil, whose identity had yet to be ascertained, was said to have died from the injury he sustained, while the school guard, Godwin Nsidieti, lost his left eye to the gunshots.

    Two other victims, a civil servant and a man said to be a resident of Igunu Street, Nurudeen Animashaun, were also affected.

    According to a report by The Punch, the NDLEA operatives had stormed Tapa Street, Lagos Island, in two Hilux vans around 8am on Tuesday, April 17, to arrest suspected drug peddlers.

    They reportedly parked their vehicles at a junction opposite the school.

    While they were raiding Patey, a neighbouring street, they were said to have been repelled by some youths.

    The anti-narcotic officials started shooting indiscriminately during which a bullet hit the pupil who was said to be going to school.

    The guard had reportedly come out of his security post on hearing gunshots when he was hit in the eye.

    The operatives reportedly fled the area, while two of the victims were rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment.

    A resident, who gave his name only as Raphael said the NDLEA officials arrested a cripple during the raid.

    He said, “Men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Ikeja had earlier raided the community that day. No sooner had they left than the NDLEA men came in through Tapa Street in two Hilux vans.

    “They were in mufti and some boys tried to chase them away. As they started shooting, they hurriedly wore their jackets with NDLEA inscribed on them.

    “Before we knew what was happening, the school guard and a pupil had been felled by bullets. A civil servant and another man (Animashaun) also sustained injuries. The officials quickly entered their vans and ran away.

    “We learnt that the pupil later died. The principal of Dolphin High School said the pupil was not known in the school. We have been trying to locate his address. The officials that perpetrated the act must be brought to book. They arrested two residents.”

    An eyewitness, who begged not to be named, said the NDLEA officials shot directly as people, who were going to their places of work, scampered to safety.

    He stated that policemen from the Area A Command, Lion Building, were deployed in the scene after a distress call.

    “One of the victims, Nurudeen (Animashaun), has just been discharged from the Lagos Island General Hospital. The school guard has been referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja because his condition is critical. A pupil was also shot and I learnt he died,” he added.

    Godwin’s younger brother, Anthony Nsidieti, said he pleaded with the NDLEA operatives to cease fire after his brother had been gunned down, but his entreaties fell on deaf ears.

    He said, “I was around the Abari Cemetery when the NDLEA officials started shooting. My brother heard the gunshots and came out of the school gate to find out what was happening. People were calling my brother’s name. I rushed there and met him inside the gutter.

    “I hid in a corner and begged them to stop shooting so I could take my brother away. As some people wanted to join me to rescue him, they started shooting again. In the process, a pupil and civil servant were shot. The boy’s mother came to carry him.

    “While I was with my brother at the Lagos Island General Hospital, the Area Commander, Area A Command, came and promised to identify those who shot him. From the hospital, he was taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, but he was rejected. We then took him to LASUTH, where we were told that the bullet had destroyed his left eye.”

    Anthony said two surgeries had been carried out on his brother, lamenting that the family had spent about N1.5m.

    “He will do the third surgery this week. When I went to the hospital on Friday, we were told that he would spend about two months more,” he added.

    The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Jonah Achema, promised to get back to our correspondent when contacted on the incident. He, however, had yet to do so as of press time.

    But the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, confirmed the shooting, adding that two persons were injured.

    He said, “We have written to the NDLEA in Lagos to produce the officials that went for that operation for questioning and we are awaiting a response. The two victims are alive and responding to treatment at the Lagos Island General Hospital and LASUTH respectively.”

     

  • NDLEA seizes illicit drugs concealed in noodles’ cartons

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Adamawa Command, has intercepted 1.31 tonnes of illicit drugs which were concealed in noodles’ cartons.

    Mr Yakubu Kibo, the NDLEA’s state Commander who made the disclosure shortly after displaying the exhibits on Thursday in Yola, said the drugs were valued at N19 million.

    Kibo said that one suspect was arrested where the drugs were intercepted in Mubi.

    “On February 7, 2018, a team of NDLEA operatives cordoned off one electronics shop opposite Mubi General Hospital.

    “After thorough search, 183 cartons of Indomie noodles were discovered. The cartons were opened and they contained 1.316 tonnes of Tramadol 225 mg tablets, valued at N19 million.

    “A suspect and owner of the shop was arrested in connection with the seized substances,” Kibo said.

    The commander appealed to members of the public to join hands with the agency to curtail the menace of drug trafficking in the country.

  • NDLEA apprehends 235 drug offenders, seizes 334kg of drugs in A’Ibom

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Akwa Ibom Command, said on Sunday that it arrested 235 suspected drug offenders and seized 334.06kilogrammes of drug from them in 2017.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Joy Agumuo, a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo.

    Agumuo said that of the 235 arrested, 191 were males while 44 were females.

    She said that there was a reduction in the number of suspects arrested and quantity of drug seized, compared to the 2016 figures of 301 suspects and 405.195 kg of drugs.

    The public relations officer revealed that during the period under review, 10 of the suspects were convicted and serving various jail terms.

    She said that the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the agency counseled some addicts, adding that they had been rehabilitated and reunited with their families

    “We arrested 235 suspected drug dealers and users and secured 10 convictions in Akwa Ibom State during 2017 operation.

    “Of this number, 191 were males while 44 were females. Over 334.06 kg of hard drugs were seized from these suspects within the period,” Agumuo said.

    According to her, some of the seizures made were cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), diazepam, tramadol and psychotropic substances.

    She expressed dismay over the high prevalence of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and combined substance users in Uyo, the state capital.

    Agumuo advised those who indulged in hard drugs to desist from the habit to avoid its adverse health implications as well as the long arm of the law.

    She attributed the achievements of the agency during the year to the commitment of the personnel, good working relationship and synergy between it and other security agencies in the state.

    She said: “the command worked hard to limit the supply and abuse of hard drugs and other psychoactive substances in the state.

    “The result is the reduction in the number of suspects and quantity of drugs seized.

    Agumuo urged the people to cooperate with the agency by volunteering adequate information on drug dealers for prompt action.

    She assured the people that the agency would not relent in its effort to comb all nooks and crannies to rid the state of drug dealers.

    The PRO identified poor funding, inadequate logistics and office accommodation as some of the challenges facing the command.

  • Missing drug containers: NDLEA responds to Saraki’s query

    A lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Bala Muhammad, had at the roundtable alleged that containers containing Tramadol and other restricted drugs were impounded in January 2016, July and November 2017 could neither be accounted for by the NDLEA while suspects arrested in connection with the illegal importation were allegedly set free.

    Based on the allegation, the President of the Senate directed the chairman of the NDLEA to within two weeks submit a comprehensive report on the incidents to the Senate.

    “This should not be swept under the carpet. Certainly someone or some people must face the wrath of the law. We must not continue this way. We will ensure that those involved and their collaborators are punished according to our laws,” Saraki said.

  • Gunmen kill NDLEA official

    Suspected armed robbers on Friday gunned down an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and injured three others in Kano.

    The NDLEA Chairman, Mohammad Abdullah, said the incident occurred when one of its patrol teams approached a road block in the city.

    He said it was not immediately certain whether the gunmen were drug traffickers or robbers.

    Narrating the development further, commander, Kano NDLEA, Hamza Umar told journalists that the late officer was shot on the back adding that he had been laid to rest.

    The NDLEA boss explained how the NDLEA’s poor funding was the reason why its operatives could not adequately protect themselves from such attacks.

    “We have lost a senior and gallant office in active service and even though loss of life is certain, this one is sadden and painful but that will not stop us from the fight.

    “Although the men were on routine operation, maybe if they were adequately equipped, perhaps they would have won the gun duel. But again this incident will further enable us to continue our consistent call on the federal government for better funding of the agency,” he said.

  • REPORT: Excess drug abuse linked to unregistered patent medicine stores

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has attributed the high rate and rampant abuse of codeine syrup and other dangerous drugs in the country to the proliferation of unregistered patent medicine stores.

    Alhaji Hamza Umar, the Commandant of the agency in Kano State, disclosed this when fielded with questions on how to stem drug abuse, especially among youths and women.

    Umar spoke through the Principal Staff Officer in charge of Operations and Investigation of NDLEA in Kano.

    He noted that there are many unregistered patent medicine stores across the state, especially in areas where public healthcare facilities are lacking.

    Umar described the activities of such medicine stores in the state as risky to the society because, according to him, the agencies that are supposed to control them were not strengthened to enforce regulation.

    He said: “If the operation of patent medicine stores, especially those that are into the business of selling cough syrups illegally without prescription are not checked, the abuse of codeine syrup and other drugs will continue in the state.

    “Those patent medicine stores are supposed to be registered by the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria with the aim of serving the public when the need arises.’’

    The commandant regretted that majority of the users of the syrup are young men and women who are addicted to cough syrups, especially the codeine.

    Umar noted that “first time users of such syrups consume it out of curiosity, and there are those who use it occasionally while others are addicted because they are regular users’’.

    According to him, the syrups are of different brands and that the brand determined their prices.

    “There is Tutoline which is sold at N200, Bioline is sold at N1, 500, while Codeine and Parkline cost N1,200 and N700, respectively and the physiological effects are more on the brain, liver, heart, skin and other organs of the body”, according to reports.

    An ex-drug addict at Indabawa quarters in Kano Municipal, Malam Khalil Umar, explained that they purchase the illicit drugs from some chemists in Sabon Gari Market following the clamp down on the dealers by the authorities.

    “We use to get it from some stores here in town, but the people from NDLEA, Ministry of Health and other security agencies started raiding the shops following complaints from parents”.

    According to him, they use to buy the syrup at the cost of N200 per bottle depending on the quality of the product or the company that produced it and could buy on credit since they became familiar with the sellers.

    The commandant said the agency is making efforts to rid the state of drug abuse through the arrest of users, seizures of the illicit drugs from the dealers and their arrest.

    However, Umar acknowledged the support of the Kano State Government in fighting the menace, noting the setting up of a recent joint task force comprising all security agencies in the state who also provided logistics to the task force and providing vehicles to the state command of the NDLEA to support its efforts.

    He said part of the committee’s mandate was to go round the state with a view to arresting unregistered patent medicine store operators.

    “In addition, we counsel and rehabilitate the addicted ones and at the end we reintegrate them into the society and unite them with their families,” Umar said.

     

     

  • Gunmen kill 3 NDLEA operatives in Kogi

    Three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been shot dead by gunmen in Okene.

    The Commandant of the NDLEA in Kogi, Alhaji Idris Bello, told reporters on Sunday in Lokoja that the three operatives were gunned down while on patrol.

    He said that they were killed at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 by the gunmen, “who emerged from nowhere’’.

    Bello said that gunmen came on foot and that the incident occurred close to the main gate of the Federal College of Education, Okene.

    He identified the operatives killed as Nicholas Onwumere, Ebun Peters and Abdulrahman Musa.

    The commandant explained that the NDLEA officers were on duty alongside their three other colleagues when the gunmen struck.

    Bello said that the officers died on the spot, while the three other colleagues escaped unhurt.

    He said that the gunmen collected the rifles of the dead officers and vanished.

    Bello said that other security agencies in the state had been contacted on the development, saying that efforts were being made to track down the killers.

    The Kogi Government had in August established a Forward Operation Base in Okene in partnership with the Nigerian Army to check kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

    However, the initiative has yet to yield the desired result, according to observers.

    Analysts suggest that the latest killing may be the handiwork of the jihadist Boko Haram group, which has been striking at soft targets in northern Nigeria, having been degraded substantially by the Nigerian armed forces.

    Kogi, regarded as the spiritual headquarters of the jihadist movement, has witnessed bloody attacks by Boko Haram in recent years.

  • Help! EFCC, NDLEA, harassing me, former first lady, Patience Jonathan tells Reps

    Help! EFCC, NDLEA, harassing me, former first lady, Patience Jonathan tells Reps

    Nigeria’s former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan has formally sought the intervention of the House of Representatives over an alleged harassment of her family by security and other law enforcement government agencies in the country.

    In a petition to the Lower Chamber on Thursday, Jonathan urged the Federal Government to call the agencies to order.

    The petition was presented at the House’s plenary by the lawmaker representing Okrika Constituency of Rivers, Rep. Bright Tamuno.

    Presenting the document, Tamuno urged the House to wade into the matter in consideration of the sacrifices her husband, former President Goodluck Jonathan, made for the country.

    According to him, no former first lady has been harassed like this before, and in view of the sacrifices that her husband has made for the country, the House should consider and call the security agencies to order.

    In the petition, Jonathan alleged that the harassment was being orchestrated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other agencies of the Federal Government.

    The Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, referred the petition to the Committee on Public Petitions for further legislative action.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the former first lady had petitioned the House in a similar vain in December 2016.

     

     

    NAN