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Tag: NDLEA

  • NDLEA intercepts vehicle loaded with 868kg of psychotropic substance

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it intercepted a vehicle loaded with 868 kilograms of a psychotropic substance (tramadol) in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.

    Mr Ibrahim Braji, the Commander of NDLEA in the state, disclosed this on Saturday in Jos at a news conference.

    Braji gave the registration number of the vehicle as QAP 316 XA.

    He said the vehicle the substance, estimated at more than N1 million, was concealed in black nylon bags in the vehicle which was conveying other goods from Onistha en-route Gombe.

    The commander said that the driver denied having knowledge of the goods he was carrying upon interrogation.

    “During interrogation, the driver, denied having knowledge of what he was carrying.

    “He said that he was given the goods to deliver in Gombe that he only stopped in Shendam LGA to deliver some drugs,’’ Braji said.

    According to him, the driver was in company of another man who claimed that he didn’t have an idea of what the driver had in his truck.

    He said that the suspects would be charged to court immediately.

    Braji appealed to the public to cooperate with the agency by giving useful information pertaining drug trafficking to help in curbing the sale, circulation and consumption of dangerous drugs in the country.

     

     

    NAN

  • Executive Orders: FG clears NPA, NDLEA, 6 other agencies to operate at ports

    Sequel to the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo signing of Executive Orders to ease the conduct of business in the country, the Federal Government on Tuesday cleared some agencies of government to lawfully operate at the ports.

    A statement by the Principal Manager, Public Affairs of NPA, Mr Ibrahim Nasiru, on Tuesday in Lagos, listed the eight approved agencies.

    The cleared agencies are; Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Police, Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.

    Nasiru also stated that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had been approved to operate at the ports.

    He said that the directive was communicated to the Managing Director of the NPA through a memo by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

    He added that the memo indicated that a methodology which would ensure that only relevant cargoes were inspected by the NDLEA would be worked out.

    He said other agencies not mentioned in the list would remain outside the port premises as the authority would develop standard procedures to facilitate their seamless operations.

    “The NPA remains committed to the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to ease of doing business in the country.

    “It also remains committed to the implementation of the Executive Orders recently issued by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as well as the improvement of conditions under which business is carried out in all ports across the country.

    “We solicit for the kind support of all agencies and stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime sector toward actualising the noble goal of making Nigeria a destination of choice for all legitimate businesses,’’ Nasiru said.

  • 3 notorious drug traffickers get 29 months prison sentence

    3 notorious drug traffickers get 29 months prison sentence

    Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday sentenced three men to 29 months imprisonment for dealing in Indian hemp.

    The convicts are Azeez Olagboye, Kehinde Saheed and Taofeek Ajadi.

    In three separate judgments, Ayo-Emmanuel held that he convicted the trio based on the evidence before him.

    The judge sentenced Olagboye and Ajadi to one year imprisonment while Saheed bagged three months in jail.

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    He said that the sentence would run from the date of their arrest.

    Ayo-Emmanuel, however, warned them to refrain from crime after serving their jail terms.

    Mr Musbau Olapade, counsel to the convicts, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in his judgment.

    Earlier, NDLEA counsel, Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, said that the convicts were arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in Indian Hemp.

    Himinkaiye added that Olagboye, Saheed and Ajadi committed the crime on May 17, April 10 and April 12 respectively at various spots in Oyo State.

    He said the offence committed by the trio was contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c ) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

  • Lagos ‘drug dealer’, Ariket forfeits nine landed properties to FG

    Lagos ‘drug dealer’, Ariket forfeits nine landed properties to FG

    A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari, has ordered a temporary forfeiture of nine landed properties owned by a Lagos based socialite and businesswoman, Mrs. Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, eminently known in the social world as Ariket, to the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).

    “The temporary forfeiture order against Ariket equally known as Funmilola Ogundipe who is said to be on the run, came sequel to a Motion Ex-parte designated FHC/L/124c/3017, and instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).” Newsmakersng reports

    Specifically, Ariket is being accused by the NDLEA of severally dealing in hard drugs.

    The properties to be temporarily forfeited to the FGN as ordered by Justice Shagari are: 146, Idimu Road, Alimosho, Lagos, 235, Ikotun-Idimu Road, Ikotun, Lagos; 18, Olayiwola Shittu Street, Abaranje, Ikotun; 13B, Ladipo Kuku, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, 8, Olufemi Avenue, Omiasoro, Ilesa, Ilesa East LGA, Osun State; 6, Hakeem-One, Momoh Close, Governor’s Road, Ikotun; a plot of land at council area, Cele Bus stop, Idimu-Ikotun, and a plot of land along Papalanto-Shagamu Road, Omu-Penpe Village, Obafemi-Owode LGA, Ogun State.

    Prior to the order of temporary forfeiture, lawyer to the NDLEA, Abu Ibrahim, contended that the application came pursuant to the provision of section 44(2)(k) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended in 2011), Section 3(1)(a)(c), 33(1)(a), 2 and 3, 36(b) of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

    The lawyer had prayed Justice Shagari to order a temporary forfeiture of the listed properties owned by Ariket who he said is being investigated for offences that touches on conspiracy to traffic in narcotic drugs, drug trafficking, and money laundering.

    The NDLEA counsel had also asked the court to give permission to, or authorise the agency to place the said listed properties under seal pending the arrest and prosecution of the said socialite and businesswoman.

    Meanwhile, the judge has ordered the remand in prisons custody, of Mrs. Morayo Omolara Odeyemi, an alleged co-conspirator of Ariket in the unlawful drug dealing, pending when the court will deliver ruling on her bail application on May 19, 2017.

  • NDLEA arrests two grandmothers with cocaine, heroin at Lagos airport

    NDLEA arrests two grandmothers with cocaine, heroin at Lagos airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two grandmothers with narcotics at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, while on their way to the U.S and Saudi Arabia.

    ‎NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

    He said the‎ suspects allegedly ingested 108 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin and cocaine during outward screening of passengers at the MMIA, Lagos.

    He said that the‎ NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba gave the names of the suspected drug traffickers as Ebunoluwa Adebayo, 60, and Ayisat Amodu, 59.

    He said that Ebunoluwa was‎ found to have ingested 83 wraps of heroin weighing 1.105kg on her way to New York, U.S while Ayisat ingested 25 wraps of cocaine weighing 275 grammes on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia. ‎

    Ofoyeju said that the women had‎ blamed their involvement in drug trafficking on financial hardship.

    He said preliminary investigation reveals that this is the first time a grandmother of 60 years will ingest a whopping 83 wraps of narcotics and noted that the second suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

    ‎‎”Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy was arrested while boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York, while Amodu Ayisat was caught trying to board an Ethiopian airline flight on her way to Medina, Saudi Arabia,” he said.

    He said that‎ ‎Ebunoluwa, a divorcee sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos while Ayisat sells food in Lagos.‎
    “I am a divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me when I lost my capital due to family problems,” Ebunoluwa said‎.

    ‎‎‎”I was happy when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia but I never knew it will end in my detention,” Ayisat said.

    ‎He said that the‎ NDLEA Chairman, retired Col. Muhammad Abdallah assured that the agency would continue to work round the clock to root out drug traffickers in the country.

    ‎‎“This move by drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and shameful.
    “The moral emptiness exhibited by the suspects must be condemned by all. A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their children and grandchildren is highly regrettable,” Abdallah said.

  • NDLEA arrests 231 suspects, recovers 122.229 kgs illicit drugs

    The Jigawa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said on Monday it had arrested 231 suspected drug dealers and recovered 122.229 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in the state.

    The state NDLEA Commandant, Mr Abdullahi Abdul, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, the Jigawa capital, noted that the feat was recorded between January and March 2017.

    Abdul said that the recovered drugs included 88.103 kilograms of Cannabis and 34.126 kilograms of Psychotropic Substances.

    He noted that the recovered illicit drugs were valued at over N2 million.

    The commandant said among the 231 suspects arrested, two were females.

    The commandant urged members of the public to support the Agency with credible information that would assist in tackling rampant abuse of illicit drugs in the state.

    “The abuse of psychotropic substance and cough syrup is a worrisome development which the command is grappling with.

    “Hence, the need for all, including the traditional rulers, religious groups and community based organizations to join hands with the agency in fighting the menace throughout the state,” Abdul said.

  • We’ll resume efforts to arrest, extradite Kashamu – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has said following the ruling of a United States Appeals Court which upheld the ruling against Senator Buruji Kashamu’s drug peddling case, it is now ready to resume efforts to arrest and finally extradite the senator.

    The agency said it has been “emboldened and strengthened” by the latest ruling of a United States court, which ruled that the senator must face drug charges.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the US appeal court on Friday upheld the ruling against Kashamu, who is facing drug charges, related to the hit TV show, “Orange is the New Black.”

    With the verdict, the Senator, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, could be extradited to face trial in the US court.

    According to the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the NDELA had a legal treaty with the US and would not compromise this agreement for any reason.

    Ofoyeju said, “Already, there are actions ongoing to vacate those orders. So, it is now important for us to pursue those actions to a conclusion because we now have a better ground to vacate those orders. And these are injunctions that he got restraining us from picking him up.

    “You know that this development is a good reason for us to vacate those orders that he is not to be arrested.”

    He stated that based on the latest US court ruling, the agency’s position had been “emboldened and strengthened and we will push for the vacation of every injunction stopping us.”

    Ofoyeju added, “When those (restraining) orders are cleared, then we can go ahead with the extradition case. There is no point filing another one. The case that was filed is still in court. It is just that there are orders preventing that case and these orders need to be cleared so that the coast will be clear.”

    On claims that the NDLEA had given up on Kashamu, the agency’s spokesperson declared, “No way, that is not true! We have not given up, but we don’t want to violate court orders. We will seek legal means and this case has emboldened our case here in Nigeria.

    “On the exceptionality of his case, he is a distinguished Senator and so our legal team will come up with the best legal option for him to clear himself because of the mutual legal agreement that we have with the US.

    “The case is a very sensitive one because he is a serving Senator; but then, we have a mutual agreement with the US on things like this. It is an allegation, but let him go and clear himself.”

    Ofoyeju said, “The court in the US has ruled and back home here, he has secured an injunction that he should not be arrested. So our legal team is currently studying the case, both the one in the US and the one in Nigeria. This is in order to know the next legal line of action, because he must clear himself. That is the position.”

    “So, as it is now we are going to look at the best legal action to take in order for his right not to be violated because he is a distinguished senator of the federal republic. However, at the same time, all necessary measures will be exploited for him to clear himself of whatever allegations that have been brought against him in the US.”

     

  • NDLEA arrests 2 drug suspects in Jigawa

    The Jigawa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two persons with 51 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    The Commandant of the agency in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul, confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday in Dutse.

    Abdul said the suspects were arrested during raids in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

    He explained that the first suspect, aged 30, was arrested in Karnaya Village.

    Abdul said the other suspect was arrested in Wanzamai Village which is also in the same local government area.

    According to the commandant, the NDLEA has launched a manhunt to arrest the suspected peddler, who is at large.

    He said that the suspects would be prosecuted as soon as the investigation was completed.

    Abdul reaffirmed the resolve of the agency to keep Jigawa free from hard drugs.

    The NDLEA chief assured that the command would continue to arrest people trafficking illegal drugs and other psychotropic substances.

     

     

  • NDLEA arrests 269 suspected drug traffickers

    ImageFile: NDLEA arrests 269 suspected drug traffickersNo fewer than 269 suspected drugs traffickers were arrested and 53 convicted in Kaduna state in 2016 by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The Kaduna State Command of the Agency said on Thursday that the number of those arrested was higher in 2016 compared to the 232 in 2015.

    The Commander of the agency in the state, Mr Samuel Azige, in Kaduna said that 18,298.375 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized from the suspects.

    The seizures dropped unlike in 2015 when 23,169.596 kilograms were seized.

    Azige attributed the reduction to the massive public enlightenment carried out within the year to educate the public against drug abuse.

    “Out of the figure, psychotropic substance constitutes the highest with 16,550. 239 kilograms, an increase from 14, 129 kilograms seized in 2015, while Indian hemp decreased from 23, 285 kilograms in 2015 to 1,748.032 kilograms in 2016.

    “The quantity of cocaine seized was 0.031 kilograms and heroine 0.019 kilograms.

    “As you can see, psychotropic substance seized was higher than Indian hemp that used to be the highest.’’

    He said that the data indicate that more people were taking dangerous substances which caused an increase in demand and supply.

    He further said that no fewer than 129 drug users were rehabilitated, including referrals from Abuja, Nasarawa, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina and Bauchi states, in the period under review.

    The commander disclosed that the command has concluded plans, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps, to enlighten drivers in motor parks against drug abuse.

    According to him, drivers under the influence of drugs often have wrong judgment on speed, and this contribute to the high number of speed related accidents on the road.

    “We are currently carrying out surveillance in all the parks in the state to determine the level of drug abuse practice among the drivers”.

  • NDLEA arrests 85 drug suspects, seizes 130.922 kg of cannabis in Gombe

    NDLEA arrests 85 drug suspects, seizes 130.922 kg of cannabis in Gombe

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gombe State Command, had arrested 85 drug suspects, seized 130.922 kilograms of cannabis and 1,206.303 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances between January and November 2016.

    The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr Aliyu Adole, disclosed this to newsmen in Gombe on Tuesday.

    “Within this period, we have arrested 82 male and 3 female suspects and we removed from circulation 130.922 kilogrammes of cannabis and 1,206.303 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances,” Adole said.

    He also said that within the period, the agency had convicted 64 suspects who were presently serving their various jail terms.

    Adole said the agency had 19 pending hard drug cases against suspects, while 32 clients were counseled in the new NDLEA rehabilitation center.

    He said that the new centre was yielding positive result and commended the state government for the gesture.

    The commandant called on members of the public to provide information that would help to reduce the circulation of hard drugs in the state and assured that their identities would be protected.