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NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine In Children Duvets, Seizes Drugged Milo Beverage

No less than 101 parcels of Cocaine concealed in eight children duvets have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to a signed statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy and made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, the illicit drug was brought into the country by a 52-year-old Brazilian returnee, Akudirinwa Hilary Uchenna who hails from Oru East Local Government area of Imo state.

He was arrested on Saturday 9th April at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha aboard Qatar Airline flight, while the 101 parcels of the class A drug with a gross weight of 13.2 kilogram were recovered from his only check-in bag.

During preliminary interview, Uchenna who claimed to be a carpenter confessed that he was to be paid N5million for trafficking the drug after successfully delivering the consignment in Lagos.

In a related development, big pellets of skunk concealed in detergent containers have been intercepted at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu. A 37-year-old South African returnee, Ezekwesili Afamefune brought in the consignment weighing 730grams aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ezekwesili is from Awka south local government area of Anambra state.

In Edo state, a 24-year-old drug dealer Christian John was arrested by NDLEA operatives in Egbeta, Ovia North East LGA for selling assorted illicit drugs which include sachets of drugged Milo beverage, cannabis sativa, swinol and tramadol tablets, while in Zamfara state, one Chibuzor Uba, 30, was arrested on Friday 8th April with 1,955 ampules of pentazocine at Kaura Namoda area of Zamfara state.

A cross-border drug trafficker, Stanley Chibuzor, 21, was on Friday 8th April arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA stationed at Oron beach, Oron, Akwa Ibom state. The suspect who hails from Ihiala, Anambra state was nabbed with 11,190 tablets of Tramadol during the outward clearance of passengers traveling to Cameroon.

In Ondo state, a drug dealer who produces and sells skuchies, Oluwaseun Agboola, 25, was arrested on Thursday 7th April, at his Igoba, Second Gate, Akure residence where 73 bottles of skuchies weighing 77kg stocked in his kitchen were recovered. Skuchies are usually a mixture of Tramadol, Cannabis sativa, Codeine, Black Currant (popularly called Zobo) and water.

In Lagos, an early morning raid in the notorious Akala, Mushin area of the state on Saturday 9th April led to the seizure of 746.25 kilograms of cannabis.

While commending officers and men of the MMIA, AIIA, Edo, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Ondo state Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to remain focussed and abstain from acts capable of compromising or jeopardising the collective goal of ridding Nigeria of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

NDLEA Arrest man with fake $4.7million Cash, Apprehend Nursing Mum For Drug Offence

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have foiled attempt by a syndicate to steal at least N2.7 billion from the Nigerian economy by pushing into circulation fake $4.7 million cash.

According to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, the operatives had in the early hours of Friday 18th February 2022 intercepted a consignment sent from Lagos to Abuja at Abaji area of the Federal Capital Territory.

Babafemi, in a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, a controlled delivery of the parcelled counterfeit US dollars totalling $4, 760, 000.00 led to the arrest of a principal suspect, 52-year-old Abdulmumini Maikasuwa.

The seizure followed intelligence received by the FCT Command of the Agency detailing the movement of the cash and the vehicle conveying it. Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that both the cash and the suspect in custody be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation.

In Kwara state, barely three weeks after a nursing mother, Mrs. Rashidat Adebayo, 38, was granted administrative bail following her arrest for dealing in illicit drugs, operatives have again arrested her in Offa with assorted drugs such as Tramadol, Swinol, Diazepam and Pentazocine injection ampules.

Before her latest arrest on Thursday 17th February, the nursing mother had been arrested and granted bail on 24th January 2022 for dealing in similar drugs.

In the same vein, NDLEA officers have arrested two drug dealers: Sani Isa (aka Bilaz) and Bala Yerima in Hong, Adamawa state with 239 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 209kg, just as operatives of the Bauchi state Command have intercepted a truck marked FFF 422 XB coming from Lagos to Maiduguri, at Azare, Bauchi. A total of 164.8kg of cannabis sativa concealed in peak milk cartons was recovered from the truck.

The NDLEA Chief Executive has commended the officers and men of the FCT Command for their vigilance and preventing counterfeit $4.7 million from going into the streets. He charged them and their counterparts in Adamawa, Kwara, Bauchi and others across the country not to rest on their oars.

Marwa Applauds NAOSRE As Operatives Nab Skit Maker, Others In Lagos Raids

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, ret’d, has applauded the supportive role of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE to his administration in the year 2021.

Speaking during an interactive session with NAOSRE President, Comrade Femi Oyewale Wednesday afternoon, Marwa noted with satisfaction that NAOSRE has been an integral part of the agency’s struggle to exterminate the activities of illicit drug agents.

“With NAOSRE, there has never been a dull moment. We appreciate the leaders and members for their patriotic supports of our activities in NDLEA,” he stated.

However, Marwa who spoke through his director of publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi sought further co-operation in the year 2022.

He stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to make Nigeria a choice country to foreign investors can only be actualized when the media plays its noble role and key into NDLEA’s fight against illicit drugs and its peddlers.

He emphasized that NDLEA’s struggle to reduce the demand and supply of illicit drugs across the length and breadth of Nigeria is a task for all patriotic Nigerians including the media.

Earlier, the NAOSRE President commended the efforts of the agency. He urged Marwa and his men to deploy more technologies in its operations.

In his overview, Oyewale projected a positive outlook in the year 2022. He reassured NAOSRE’s continuous support to security agencies so that the critical objective of a safer Nigeria can be achieved.

Meanwhile, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 12, arrested a skit maker, Sunday Joshua, popularly known on social media as De-General, following the raid of a notorious drug joint at Orchid Estate, Lekki area of Lagos state.

Acting on credible intelligence, narcotic officers stormed the drug joint in the estate, where three suspects were arrested with illicit drugs including 200 sachets of 225mg Tramadol and 1.5kilograms of cannabis Sativa. In the course of the operation, some persons including the suspected dealer ran away with bags suspected to contain exhibits.

A trail showed they ran into a house located at 2B Saula Akinlolu way, Orchid estate, which is the residence of 22-year-old Sunday Joshua (aka De General). The young men started to make noise to prevent a search. The operatives introduced themselves as officers of NDLEA and submitted themselves for search before entry. This was done and a search was conducted.

The search led to the recovery of drug exhibits including cannabis sativa; Tramadol 225mg, and some paraphernalia for drug use. This was after the suspect had requested to record on video the search, which the officers out of sense of civility allowed. The video trending on social media was the moment the suspect and his friends decided to disrupt the bid to conduct a search of the house.

In his confessional statement in custody, the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs recovered from his house.

We Will Assist NDLEA Tackle Drug Abuse In Lagos – Obasa Lagos Assembly Speaker

Speaker Obasa with NDLEA officials led by Ralph Igwenagu

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, has promised that the state legislature will continue to support the fight against drug abuse and its effects on the youths and residents of the state.

Obasa made the promise when he played host to top officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) led by its state commander, Mr. Ralph Igwenagu, on Thursday evening.

The Speaker expressed hope that a collective fight against the societal challenge would help to further sustain a safe and well-protected Lagos.
He said he was not surprised that Lagos has been described as one of the epicentres of drug abuse in the country saying with an influx of people from other states, it should be expected.

“I am not disappointed that Lagos has been rated number one. Lagos has become an abode for everybody – the good and the bad – and this has become a challenge to the government.

“That is why it is difficult for the Lagos Government to project. When you project for a certain number of people this year, before you know it, more than three times your projection will enter the state.

“That is why we make efforts to support the Federal Government by equipping the Rapid Response Squad. We also set up the Security Trust Fund, the Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and others to ensure that lives and property are protected,” he said adding that collaboration by stakeholders was important because the negative effects of drug abuse affects everybody since some engage in criminal activities.

The Speaker commended the NDLEA officials for attending a recent stakeholders’ meeting organised by the House to enlighten residents against drug abuse.

Earlier, Mr. Igwenagu thanked the House for organising the Stakeholders’ meeting saying it helped in reaching the grassroots of the state.
“We want to request that you sustain that exercise. We know that with you, it is possible because members of the House of Assembly are grassroots politicians and can reach out to the youths.

He said Lagos has a fair share of the challenges of drug abuse in Nigeria promising that the NDLEA would continue to work with the House to ensure continuous reduction in cases of drug abuse.

Speaker Obasa, his aides and officials of the CCB

In a related development, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has promised to collaborate with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in Lagos state.
The Speaker said this when Mrs. OK Popoola, State Director of the organisation, led other officials on a visit to the House.

Obasa said the House had always ensured accountability and transparency in all its dealings adding that the need to tackle corruption had resulted in the passage of motions and resolutions.

He said the House recently passed a law against corruption adding that even though some people misinterpreted it, the lawmakers have a consciousness that fighting corruption should be the responsibility of everybody, not just the Federal Government.

Popoola earlier commended the lawmakers for their swift responses to their asset declaration obligations.

She also urged for collaboration between the House and the CCB.

Marwa Led NDLEA Seizes 400.37kg Illicit Drugs, Arrests Kingpin Who Ingested 87 Wraps Of Cocaine

A narco trafficker, Ibeh Kenneth Ejike, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja for ingesting 87 wraps of cocaine.

This is contained in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy an made available to NAOSRE.

According to the statement, the 41-year-old suspect who imports clothes for sale and hails from Owerrizikeala village in Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra state was arrested on Wednesday, 25th August 2021, upon his arrival on board an Ethiopian Airline flight 911 from Kigali via Addis Ababa.

He was taken in for a secondary check during which he tested positive for ingestion of the illicit substances.

While under observation, he excreted 87 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.884 kilograms.

In the same vein, a Lagos-based drug dealer, Eze Celestine Okorie has been arrested following the interception of 4.15kilograms of methamphetamine consignment going to London, the United Kingdom at the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on 13th August.

The drug was concealed in tins of tomato branded ‘sunripe’ and packaged for the driver of a freight forwarding company to deliver at the airport export shed for onward movement to the UK. Though the freight company’s driver was initially arrested, follow-up investigations and subsequent sting operation led to the arrest of the kingpin behind the consignment, Eze Celestine Okorie, at his Coker, Surulere, Lagos home on Wednesday 25th August 2021.

He hails from Isu village in Onicha LGA, Ebonyi State.

Meanwhile, raids of drug joints continued across the states in the last week. In Cross River state, one Anietie Attauba was arrested at Idundu community with 9.9 grams of cocaine, while 23-year-old Joy Odey was picked at Nassarawa Bakoko Area of Calabar Municipality LGA on Friday 27th August with 500grams of skunk. On the same day, one Ugwuanyi Chukwujekwu Basil was arrested at AK Divine Park, Harbour Road, Calabar with 2.6kg of cannabis; 10.33grams of cocaine and 30ml of swinol.
In Abuja, operatives of the FCT Command of the Agency also intercepted a Hiace bus conveying bags of cannabis, and 30 parcels of skunk, cumulatively weighing 310kilograms along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway, where another 32kg of Tramadol was equally seized same day.

In Anambra State, operatives also raided the Onitsha main market, Marine Line on Thursday 26th August with the support of soldiers. Recovered during the raid include 50kg of cannabis; 150grams of meth and 27.6grams of cocaine. One of the dealers, Moses Obiahu was arrested.

While commending the resilience of the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Anambra, Cross River and FCT Commands of the Agency as shown by their latest arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the ongoing offensive action aimed at cutting off availability and accessibility to illicit drugs in all parts of Nigeria.

Marwa Vows To Dismantle Drug Cartel As NDLEA Operatives Recover 137.55kg Of Cocaine In Ondo, Nasarawa, Benue Raid

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have launched fresh raids in Nasarawa, Benue and Ondo states where no fewer than 43 dealers and consumers of illicit substances were arrested.

137.55 kilograms of assorted drugs was also recovered during the ‘offensive action.’
Femi Baba Femi, Director, Media & Advocacy of the agency disclosed this to NAOSRE in a press statement.

According to the NDLEA spokesman, operatives in Nasarawa state were backed by a detachment of soldiers from 177 battalion of the Nigerian Army, Keffi.
The team raided notorious drug joints located in Kara Masaka, Ruwa Ruwa Uke, Abattoir at the border with FCT, Filing Bala, Masaka U- Turn and others for two consecutive days between August 5 and 6.

During the raids, at least 41 suspects were arrested and assorted drugs such as cocaine, cannabis sativa, cough syrup with codeine, rohypnol and tramadol with a total weight of 65.250kg recovered from them.

Cannabis plants planted by the drug dealers in the adjoining bushes were destroyed while all the stalls in the drug markets were dismantled and set ablaze.

In the same vein, operatives of the Ondo state command of the Agency in the early hours of Monday, 9th August, 2021 raided Odopetu area of Akure in Akure South local government area of the state capital, where a 44-year-old Mrs. Folake Ademola was arrested while her husband escaped arrest.

Recovered from their home include: 65.400kg of cannabis sativa; skunk – 500grams; loud- 16grams; Colorado- 34grams, bringing the total of drugs seized from them to 65.950 kilograms.

In Benue state, a 34-year-old Iornum Emmanuel was arrested at the NDLEA Aliade checkpoint on Sunday 8th August, 2021 with different quantities of assorted illicit drugs, which include; tramadol -500grams; diazepam- 1.5kg and exol 5- 7.9kg.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the commanders, officers and men of the Nasarawa, Ondo and Benue state commands for their commitment to the goal of ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse and trafficking.

He charged them and their colleagues in other commands to continue on the offensive until the last drug cartel in Nigeria is dismantled.

NDLEA Recovers Cocaine From Lady’s Underwear At Lagos Airport, Intercepts Drugs Going To Italy, Turkey

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday 31st July 2021, recovered 35 wraps of cocaine from the underwear of a lady, Okafor Ebere Edith during the outward clearance of passengers on Air Cotevoire, to Monrovia, Liberia from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

This is contained in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy which was made available to NAOSRE on August 1.

According to the statement, the suspect who tucked the pellets of cocaine in her underwear to beat security checks at the Airport was picked up for search and questioning. The wraps of the illicit drug were found on her.

During a preliminary interview, she claimed her desire to make money pushed her into drug trafficking.

Another suspect, Echendu Jerry Maduakolam, an intending male passenger going to Istanbul was arrested at Gate A departure hall of the MMIA on Tuesday 27th July during outward clearance of Egypt airline to Turkey with 78grams of cannabis mixed with dried bitter leaves.

On the same day, another intending male passenger, Egbon Osarodion going to Milan, Italy was arrested at the airport’s Gate A departure hall during outward clearance of passengers on Egypt airline with different quantities of 225mg Tramadol and Rohypnol concealed in foil papers wrapped in a polyethylene bag.

Meanwhile, acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives from Kontagora Area command of the Agency in the early hours of Thursday 29th July 2021 raided a warehouse at Mailefe village in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger state, where drug supplies for bandits operating in parts of the state were stored.

After a thorough search of the warehouse, 125 bags of Cannabis Sativa were recovered while a man seen praying in front of the house fled into the forest when he sighted the narcotic officers from afar.

Chairman/ Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the commanders, officers, and men of the MMIA and Niger state commands of the Agency to track down traffickers of illicit drugs in their areas of responsibility. He charged them and their counterparts in other commands to remain focused and resolute in pursuit of the goal to rid Nigeria of illicit substances and drug-related criminalities.

NDLEA intercepts parcels of cocaine, heroin going to UK, Ireland, Australia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted well-concealed and unaccompanied parcels of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis sativa being shipped to the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Australia, Maldives and New Zealand.

A statement signed by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi and made available to NAOSRE stated that a notorious trafficker, Sikiru Owolabi, who is behind at least two of the parcels has been traced and arrested after days of thorough and systematic surveillance by NDLEA operatives. Undercover narcotic agents attached to two international courier companies in Lagos made the seizures.

Sikiru Owolabi, who has made useful confessions during interrogations, was tracked after 1kilogramme of cocaine concealed in cream containers and meant for Dublin in Northern Ireland was intercepted at one of the courier firms in Lagos. This was also followed by the discovery of another 200grammes of cocaine meant for London, United Kingdom in the same courier company.

In another undercover operation, 320grammes of heroin concealed in earrings coming from Congo and going to Australia was seized at a different courier firm in Lagos, just as another 390 grammes of cocaine hidden in men’s clothing and going to Northern Ireland was intercepted in the same company.

While 500grammes of cannabis sativa concealed in automobile parts going to New Zealand was seized at one of the courier companies, 200 grammes of methamphetamine hidden inside an award plaque and going to New Zealand, with another 200 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in a book and going to Maldives, were equally intercepted in another firm.

Beside the arrest of Owolabi, efforts are ongoing to track and arrest other traffickers behind the other unaccompanied illicit drugs packaged as parcels for shipment to Europe.

Chairman-Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the men and officers involved in the operations to frustrate attempts by drug barons and traffickers to ship illicit drugs overseas through unaccompanied parcels. “I ask all our men and officers involved in the various overt and covert operations across the country to continue with the ongoing offensive action until we chase the criminal elements out of their illicit and damaging trade”, General Marwa admonished.

NDLEA Recovers Rifles in Niger, Destroys Hectares of Cannabis farm in Ondo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Niger State Command have recovered 27 new rifles from two suspects during a routine stop and search operation in Kontagora area of the state.

The suspects; Danjuma Auta, 35, and Daniel Danrangi, 25, both male and from Dirin Daji, Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State were arrested along Kontagora – Zuru road, Niger state on Monday night.

According to the Niger state Commander of the Agency, Mr. Aloye Isaac Oludare, the duo were arrested with 12 locally fabricated AK 47 rifles and 15 locally fabricated pistols. The rifles were concealed in a white sack while on a motorcycle to an unknown place when they were arrested.

“Kontagora where the weapons were seized is about 107 kilometers from Kagara, a town in Niger State where there have been mass abductions of women, children and secondary school students in the last one month.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the fabricator of the weapons resides in Kamfaninwaya, not far away from Kontagora, while one of the pistols is fully loaded. The suspects and the weapons will be transferred to the Nigerian Police Headquarters, Minna for further investigation and prosecution of the suspects”, he stated.

In another operation, operatives of NDLEA, Ondo State Command have raided Ita-Ipele and Ipele forests, Owo LGA of Ondo State. “During the operation, Six suspects, namely; Stephen Ikechukwu, 38; Stephen Friday, 32; Austin Osadebe, 58; Friday Paul, 29; Adebayo Raphael, 25 and John Pius, 45, were arrested.

“A total of 41kgs of Cannabis Sativa and 6kgs of Cannabis Seeds were recovered during the operation, while a total of five hectares of Cannabis farm was located and destroyed”, the Ondo state Commander of the Agency, Mr. Haruna Gagara stated.