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Tag: Cocaine

  • Ndlea seizes 15,064kgs of cocaine, heroin at Lagos ports

    Ndlea seizes 15,064kgs of cocaine, heroin at Lagos ports

    The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, said that the agency has seized over 15,064kg of cocaine and heroin at the Tin Can and Apapa ports since 2006 with an estimated value of 225 trillion naira.

    Abdallah said that drug barons are targeting the ports for their illicit drug activities, but the agency will resist their scheming. The drugs include 14,813.40kg of cocaine and 251.22kg of heroin.

    According to the NDLEA boss, “the seaports are high risk drug trafficking locations because of the movement of large volume of consignments. Official record of drug seizures at the ports underscores the volatility of the ports in drug trafficking.

    Since 2006, the agency has seized over 15,064kg of cocaine and heroin at the Lagos ports. The country cannot afford to condone this criminal trade because such huge proceeds in the hands of drugs cartels are threatening. We shall continue to screen incoming and outgoing vessels, thereby making the ports impregnable to drug trafficking organisations”.

    Abdallah added that the presence of the NDLEA at the ports is of immense economic and security benefit to the country and that the agency will maintain alertness and frustrate any action targeted at disrupting her operations at the seaports.

    The agency has the approval of the Federal Government to operate at the ports and this onerous responsibility shall be diligently and effectively discharged.

    Abdallah reiterated that the NDLEA will take reasonable measures in preventing the seaports from being used for drug trafficking.

  • Saudi-bound pilgrim arrested with cocaine at Lagos Airport

    Saudi-bound pilgrim arrested with cocaine at Lagos Airport

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have intercepted a 54- year- old single mother of four children.

    She was going on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia with substances that tested positive for cocaine.

    The suspect who hails from Kwara State was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight to Saudi Arabia after testing positive to drug ingestion.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that she ingested 32 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 330 grammes.

    The suspect who hawks tea and bread to earn a living in Lagos was found to have collected N300,000 to smuggle drugs to Saudi under the pretext of going for pilgrimage. She was also going to Saudi as a private pilgrim and not as a group.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that this was the second arrest of a pilgrim at the airport. One Odeyemi Omolara Morayo a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi was caught with 1.595kg of cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia in February.

    He also added that the suspect, Owolabi Oluwayemisi Modinat, was cooperating with investigating officers and that she will be arraigned as soon as investigation was concluded.

    The suspect in her statement explained that poverty led her into drug trafficking. According to her, “I have never travelled outside the country before now. I am a single mother of four children. I sell tea and bread to earn a living.

    “At present, I have no money to continue with my tea business due to family problems. A man met me and promised to help me by sponsoring my trip to Saudi Arabia. As a Muslim, I was happy but he later asked me to swallow the drugs. I agreed because he promised to pay me N300,000. I have too many problems and nobody to help me.”

    The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), while commenting on the arrest of Oluwayemisi Modinat said that the agency is working to prevent those hiding under the cover of pilgrimage in trafficking narcotics.

    “There is no hiding place for drug traffickers. We are prepared to stop their ignoble acts and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others. It is even more disturbing that despite the death penalty for drugs in Saudi Arabia, these criminal elements still recruit mules on a suicide mission.”

    The NDLEA boss called on members of the public to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to drug barons.  The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • NDLEA uncovers cocaine inside passenger’s boxer shorts

    NDLEA uncovers cocaine inside passenger’s boxer shorts

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos have discovered cocaine hidden inside the boxer shorts and luggage of a passenger.

    Two suspected drug traffickers, a jewellery and auto parts dealers have been apprehended in connection with the unlawful importation of the narcotics.

    The suspects, according to the agency, are Okonkwo Godwin, 57, an importer of jewellery found with cocaine in his boxer shorts and Nnaemeka David Chinedu, 37, an auto parts dealer who ingested 94 wraps of heroin.

    This is one of the largest quantities of drugs ingested by a suspect at the Lagos airport lately.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that the suspects arrived from Brazil and Uganda with cocaine and heroin respectively.

    “Two suspected drug traffickers are currently being interrogated for illegally importing narcotics into the country. Okonkwo Godwin was caught with one wrap of cocaine in his boxer shorts and another inside his bag all weighing 750 grammes.

    “ He was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on a South African airline flight from Brazil, while Nnaemeka David Chinedu was arrested for ingesting 94 wraps of heroin weighing 1.595kg during the screening of passengers on a Rwandan airline flight from Uganda,” Ahmadu said.

    The 57-year-old suspect, Okonkwo Godwin, who hid a parcel of cocaine in his boxer shorts, told narcotic investigators that he smuggled drugs because of his numerous financial problems.

    “I am married with two children, but I am in a terrible financial crisis. I used to import jewellery for sale at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos and the Onitsha main market. Things have changed so drastically that l even find it difficult to feed my family.

    “ This was what led me into drug trafficking. l was given two wraps of cocaine; one was hidden in my boxer shorts, while the other was in my luggage. The agreement was for me to sell the drug and share the proceeds with my partner in Brazil,” Okonkwo said.

    Nnaemeka David Chinedu said he swallowed 94 wraps of heroin for N 450,000  out of desperation.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) said the agency would continue to disappoint the plans of drug traffickers “who wish to make money from drug trafficking”.

    The suspects will soon be charged to court.

  • NDLEA discovers cocaine inside passengers’ boxers, luggage

    NDLEA discovers cocaine inside passengers’ boxers, luggage

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have discovered cocaine hidden inside the boxer shorts and luggage of a passenger.

    Two suspected drug traffickers, jewellery and auto parts dealers have been apprehended in connection with unlawful importation of narcotics.

    The suspects according to the Agency are Okonkwo Godwin, 57, an importer of jewellery found with cocaine in his boxer shorts and Nnaemeka David Chinedu, 37, an auto parts dealer who ingested 94 wraps of heroin.

    This is one of the largest quantities of drugs ingested by a suspect at the Lagos airport lately.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the suspects arrived from Brazil and Uganda with cocaine and heroin respectively.

    “Two suspected drug traffickers are currently being interrogated for illegally importing narcotics into the country. Okonkwo Godwin was caught with one wrap of cocaine in his boxer shorts and another inside his bag all weighing 750 grammes.

    He was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on a South African Airline flight from Brazil while Nnaemeka David Chinedu was arrested for ingesting ninety-four wraps of heroin weighing 1.595kg during the screening of passengers on Rwand Airline from Uganda” Ahmadu stated.

    The 57 year old suspect, Okonkwo Godwin who hid a parcel of cocaine in his boxer shorts told narcotic investigators that he smuggled drugs because of his numerous financial problems.

    “I am married with two children but I am in a terrible financial crisis. I used to import jewellery for sale at Trade Fair complex in Lagos and Onitsha main market. Things have changed so drastically that l even finds it difficult to feed my family.

    This was what led me into drug trafficking. l was given two wraps of cocaine; one was hidden in my boxer shorts while the other was in my luggage. The agreement was for me to sell the drug and share the proceeds with my partner in Brazil,” Okonkwo stated.

    Nnaemeka David Chinedu said that he swallowed 94 wraps of heroin for 450,000 naira out of desperation.

    “I ingested drugs for N450, 000 naira because l was desperate. This is my first time of smuggling drugs. I have been selling auto parts in Lagos for the past 15 years but l must admit that things are very rough with me financially. I was paid to smuggle drugs from Uganda to make ends meet,” Nnaemeka explained.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said that the Agency will continue to disappoint the plans of drug traffickers who wish to make money from drug trafficking.

    In his words, “NDLEA is working very hard to intercept drugs at all entry points and also arrest every trafficker.

    “Those who intend to enrich themselves with proceeds of drugs will end up in detention. The arrests so far made validate our resolve to address the problem of drug trafficking in the country”.

    The suspects will soon be charged to court.

     

  • NDLEA arrests 57-year-old woman with cocaine

    NDLEA arrests 57-year-old woman with cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested 57-year-old Mrs. Morayo Odeyemi with substances suspected to be cocaine.

    A statement in Lagos by the agency’s spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the woman was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

    It said that the suspect was Saudi Arabia-bound and that the substance was concealed in her luggage.

    “The suspect, who claimed to be going on a pilgrimage to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, had all the paraphernalia of a pilgrim, save for the narcotic content of her luggage.

    “The two parcels of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine were carefully concealed inside her luggage.

    “The suspect with a valid Egypt Air ticket from Lagos to Saudi Arabia was arrested with 1.595kg of cocaine.

    “The cocaine which was concealed in a false bottom of her bag was discovered during routine check on passengers at the departure hall.

    “We had to cut the bag open to recover the cocaine because of the way it was neatly concealed. She was immediately arrested and the case is currently under investigation,” the statement stated.

    Chairman of NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, described the suspect’s action as “condemnable”.

    “Smuggling cocaine to Saudi Arabia under any guise is condemnable.“It is good that she was arrested here because drug trafficking attracts capital punishment in Saudi.

    “Apart from saving her from execution in Saudi, the prompt arrest also protected our country from disrepute,” he said.

  • Stationer caught with 73 wraps of cocaine 

    Stationer caught with 73 wraps of cocaine 

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have prevented the attempt by a 49-year-old stationer to export 1.699kg of cocaine to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

     The arrest was made at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, when a passenger, Nwafor Samson Tochukwu, tested positive for narcotic ingestion during the outward screening of an Ethiopian Airline flight.

    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, said that Nwafor excreted 73 wraps of whitish substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 1.699kgs under observation.

     ”The Abuja airport command of the agency arrested one Nwafor Samson Tochukwu who tested positive for drug ingestion during routine check on Ethiopian Airline passengers. He was immediately placed under observation where he excreted 73 wraps of cocaine that weighed 1.699kgs,” Hamisu stated.

    The suspect, who hails from the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, said that he was offered the sum of N1,500,000 to smuggle the drugs.

     ”I live in Lagos with my wife and five children. I got myself into drug trafficking because of economic hardship. They offered me N1,500,000 to smuggle the drugs to Dubai. I thought it would be easy for me to go undetected, but I was arrested in the process,” Nwafor lamented.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), called on members of the public to be cautious of the evil plans by drug trafficking organisations to ruin their destinies.

     “Members of the public should not fall into the traps of drug trafficking organisations which are on the prowl of drug mules.

     ”They entice them with money to smuggle drugs, but will not tell them that they will be caught in the process and sent to prison. Unfortunately, most drug couriers end up regretting after they have been caught.

     ”The agency will continue to sensitise members of the public on the consequences of drug trafficking, but individuals must take personal responsibility in the fight against drug trafficking,” he said.

    Section 11 subsection (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004 states that any person who without lawful authority exports, transports or otherwise traffics in the drugs, popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

     The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • Nigerian nabbed with 90 capsules of cocaine in India airport

    Nigerian nabbed with 90 capsules of cocaine in India airport

    A Nigerian, Okonkwo M. Tony, has been arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi, India, for alleged drug trafficking.

    Tony, upon his arrest by Narcotics Control Bureau sleuths had swallowed 90 capsules of cocaine.

    The drugs were found in his stomach during a routine search.

    Tony was apprehended after he landed at the airport from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa and had been admitted to a hospital by the sleuths of the Delhi Zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau.

    A joint commissioner, crime, Ravindra Yadav, told The Hindu the suspect ejected 90 cocaine-filled capsules weighing 1.3kg in two days.

    According to him, Tony had initially misled the sleuths saying he had come to India for business purpose while carrying a tourist visa.

    “He was admitted to a hospital and after medical intervention he ejected the drug-filled capsules.

    “He told investigators that he had swallowed these at a guest house in Lagos and then reached Addis Ababa via Lome (Togo).

    “He was apprehended as soon as he landed here from the Ethiopian capital.

    “Tony was supposed to hand over the drug capsules to another Nigerian national here, whom the agency has been trailing.

    “Tony has been arrested under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

    “This is the fourth case of seizure of cocaine by the NCB in Delhi in the last one month.

    “The method of smuggling after swallowing the drug is not easy to detect as it is hard to identify any concealment inside the body,” Yadav said.

  • NDLEA discovers cocaine inside soles of new foot wears

    NDLEA discovers cocaine inside soles of new foot wears

    The officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja have discovered parcels of whitish substance that tested positive for cocaine inside foot wears.

    The suspected cocaine, according to a statement released on Monday in Lagos by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, weighed 9.150kgs.

    “The discovery was made in a shipment of shoes during inward screening of passengers on a Turkish airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

    “The cocaine was industrially concealed in the soles of new foot wears.

    “It was the last arrest of 2016 at the Abuja airport with an estimated value of 3.8 million pounds.

    “There was an arrest at the weekend of a 34- year old suspect, Kingsley Okolo.

    “The suspect who is a motorcycle parts dealer said that he was offered the N1 million to smuggle the drugs to Nigeria.

    “Investigation is on going and the suspect is cooperating with our team of undercover officers,” Ofoyeju said.

    He also quoted the chairman of the NDLEA, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that the huge profit derived from drug trafficking has made it a top priority for drug cartels to be financially incapacitated.

    “We must continue to take deliberate steps to intercept drugs and ultimately prevent the criminal enrichment of drug cartels.

    “Illicit drug proceeds negatively affect economic development and could be used to corrupt government officials and fund terrorism thereby subjecting mankind to widespread destruction,” Abdallah stated.

    Abdallah also commended the arresting officers describing the seizure as one of the benefits of training.

    “The seizure is a validation of enhanced capacity of officers due to series of training programmes carried out by the Agency.”

    The NDLEA boss appealed to stakeholders to intensify the anti-narcotics campaign adding that ‘we needed all hands on deck as we begin the new year.

    He said the suspect will soon be charged to court. (NAN)

  • NDLEA arrests two suspects with cocaine

    NDLEA arrests two suspects with cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday said it arrested two suspects with cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport

    A statement by the agency’s spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said one of the suspects was arrested on his way to Hong Kong after ingesting cocaine.

    “Another suspect, who lives in Athens, Greece, was also apprehended in connection with unlawful possession of wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine.

    “The arrests were made at the MMIA, Lagos, during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong and Egypt Airline flight to Athens.

    “Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspects had targeted the Christmas holiday to smuggle cocaine out of the country but drug law enforcement officials at the Lagos airport were able to uncover their plan.

    “The total weight of cocaine seized from the suspects is 1.150kgs.

    “One of them excreted 45 wraps of cocaine he ingested, weighing 935 grammes while the other excreted five wraps of cocaine weighing 215 grammes.

    “Both suspects tested positive for narcotic ingestion and while under observation; they expelled wraps of cocaine which they had wanted to smuggle out of the country.

    “The suspects are currently under investigation.

    “The high expectations of both suspects making quick money this festive season from drug trafficking had been dashed by vigilant anti-narcotic officers,” the statement stated.

    The statement also reported the Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that those wishing to get rich through drug trafficking would end up in prison.

    “This is a warning to drug traffickers that the agency is determined to detect all hidden drugs and prosecute offenders.

    “There are control measures in place to detect narcotics at all exit and entry points.

    “We shall continue to improve on our strategies in line with our mission of providing a safe and healthy society for all.” Abdallah said. (NAN)

  • NDLEA arrests man for alleged drug trafficking

    NDLEA arrests man for alleged drug trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra on Tuesday said it arrested a 56-year-old man for allegedly been in possession of 239.8gm of cocaine and 119.2gm of heroin.

    Mr Inalegwu Ameh, Assistant Commander Operations and Intelligence of the agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka.

    He said that the suspect, Chike Ananti, was arrested on Oct. 23 in Onitsha following a tip off.

    He said that the suspect, an ex-convict of the same offence, had been on the wanted list of the agency for long time.

    According to him, the suspect relocated from the state when he discovered that the agency was after him and had been operating the illegal business.

    Ameh said that the arrest was part of efforts of the command to ensure that the state was free of crime and criminality.

    He, however, urged the public to collaborate with the agency to ensure crime free society by providing useful information to the command.

    Ameh also warned those who still engaged in the illegal business to desist from the act or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

    He said the suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations were completed.