The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cocaine

  • Welder jailed five years for dealing in cocaine

    Welder jailed five years for dealing in cocaine

    A welder, Shola Adeitan, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to dealing in cocaine.

    Justice Mohammed Idris of the Lagos Federal High Court sentenced the 32-year-old following his guilty plea.

    The father of one said he joined cocaine business when his welding business suffered due to lacks of jobs.

    He added that a friend introduced him into the illicit trade.

    He pleaded for forgiveness.

    The judge also jailed a 37-year-old trader, Bello Adam, for two years after he also pleaded guilty to dealing in marijuana.

    The National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) prosecutor Jerry Aernan said Adeitan was arrested on April 18 at Aguda in Surulere with eight grammes of cocaine.

    He said Bello was arrested on April 13 at Eleganza Plaza, Apapa, with 700 grammes of marijuana, popularly called Indian hemps.

    Bello, an indigene of Kaduna State, said he started smoking hemp to quench the stench emitting from waste bins where he scavenges for materials that he sold to recyclers.

     

  • Female pilgrim excretes 82 wraps of cocaine

    A 55-year-old female pilgrim, Mrs. Iyabo Binuyo, has excreted 82 wraps of cocaine after she was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives.

    She was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja during outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Dubai en-route Medina.

    The mother of three, who sells cosmetics at Dosumu market, Lagos hails from Irepodun local government area of Kwara State.

    She admitted committing the offence during interrogations by NDLEA operatives.

    According to her, “I am a trader in Lagos, married with three children. I wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I have no money. My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage. This was how I got involved in the act. I was excited until the issue of drugs was introduced.”

    She added: “I wanted to decline but it was late. Besides, I was offered a million naira which I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took a flight to Abuja on my way to Medina but I was caught in the process.”

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Muhammad Abdallah described her action as shameful and discreditable.

    He said that drug traffickers shall be severely sanctioned in line with anti-narcotic laws of the land. According to him, “It is a shameful and discreditable act for a 55- year- old mother going on a holy pilgrimage to ingest narcotics.

    “This is very shocking and a clear indication of her inability to effectively discharge parental responsibility. The Agency shall invoke the powers of the law against her and others caught indulging in production/trafficking in narcotic drugs.”

    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan confirmed the total number of wraps of cocaine ingested by the suspect while under observation.

    “Mrs. Binuyo Basari Iyabo while under observation expelled 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 931 grammes.

    “All arrangements have been concluded for her prosecution,” Hamisu stated.

  • Arrested female pilgrim excretes 82 wraps of Cocaine

    Arrested female pilgrim excretes 82 wraps of Cocaine

    A 55 year-old female pilgrim arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja has excreted eighty-two wraps of cocaine weighing nine hundred and thirty-one (931) programmes.

    The suspect was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Dubai en-route Medina.
    Mrs Binuyo Busari Iyabo who hails from Irepodun local government area of Kwara State is married with three children and sells cosmetics at Dosumu market, Lagos. In her statement, she owned up to the crime and also provided investigators with useful information.
    Describing her action as shameful and discreditable, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah warned against trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.He said that drug traffickers shall be severely sanctioned in line with anti-narcotic laws of the land.
    “It is a shameful and discreditable act for a 55 year old mother who is going on a holy pilgrimage to ingest narcotics. This is very shocking and a clear indication of her inability to effectively discharge parental responsibility. The Agency shall invoke the powers of the law against her and others caught indulging in production/trafficking in narcotic drugs”.
    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan confirmed the total number of wraps of cocaine ingested by the suspect while under observation. “Mrs Binuyo Basari Iyabo while under observation expelled eighty-two wraps of cocaine weighing nine hundred and thirty-one (931) grammes. All arrangements have been concluded for her prosecution”. Hamisu stated.
    In her statement the arrested woman said she wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I had no money.“My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage. This was how I got involved in the act. I was excited until the issue of drugs was introduced. I wanted to decline but it was late. Besides, I was offered a million naira which I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took a flight to Abuja on my way to Medina but I was caught in the process” she told investigators.
    NDLEA Chairman called on members of the public not to get involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities capable of exposing them to ridicule and undermining their good reputation.

     

  • NDLEA nabs pilgrim with narcotic, resues two others

    A 55 year old female pilgrim to Medina, Saudi Arabia to perform the annual pilgrimage has tested positive to narcotic ingestion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. She was immediately placed under observation by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
    The suspect identified as Mrs Binuyo Basira Iyabo has so far excreted seventy-six (76) pellets of substances found to be cocaine.
    At the Murtalla Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, officials also intercepted a 37 year old father of three children for inserting seven wraps of cocaine weighing 355 grammes inside his anus.
    Both suspects were going to Saudi and China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.
    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan said that the female suspect is still under observation until she expels all the ingested pellets of drugs.
    “Mrs Binuyo was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Medina through Dubai. She has so far excreted seventy-six (76) pellets of drugs that tested positive for cocaine. Meanwhile, she is still under observation until the drugs are completely expelled,” Hamisu stated.
    Mrs Binuyo hails from Irepodun local government area of Kwara State. She is married with three children and a trader at dosumu market, Lagos. In her statement, she agreed to smuggling the drugs for a fee.
    “I am a trader in Lagos, married with three children. I wanted to expand my cosmetic business but I have no money. My sponsor offered to foot my expenses to Saudi on pilgrimage. I was excited until I was asked to take drugs along.
    “I wanted to decline but considering the offer of a million naira, I accepted. I swallowed the drugs in Lagos and took flight to Abuja on my way to Medina but I was caught in the process” she stated.
  • Cocaine, heroin ‘mainly used’ in Lagos, says NDLEA

    Cocaine, heroin ‘mainly used’ in Lagos, says NDLEA

    •‘Cannabis most commonly produced, trafficked, abused drug in Nigeria’

    A COMMUNITY-based surveys have shown that heroin and cocaine are mainly used in Lagos, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Director-General Mrs Roli Bode-George said yesterday.

    She said other cosmopolitan state capitals were also reported as places where the two narcotic substances are widely used.

    At a inter- ministerial briefing on the commemoration of International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Mrs George described cannabis as the most produced, trafficked and abused drug in the country.

    She said the use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) is predominant in the northern part.

    Mrs George identified synergy among stakeholders as the major achievement of the current Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).

    “The agency has recorded great success in the implementation of the Drug Control Master Plan. Most significant is the high level of synergy among stakeholders. Drug trafficking is a thriving business and a serious issue in Nigeria that requires strong, concerted control efforts. To effectively address the challenge of drug abuse in Nigeria, sensitisation, advocacy and prevention programmes remain vital,” she said.

    An emerging problem with the abuse of Zakami (Datura Metel), an indigenous plant and solvents were also found among marginalised youths and street children in some northern States.

    “Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) however constitute one of the most at risk groups for HIV infections in Nigeria. NDLEA between 2010 and 2014 covered an average of 1,000 schools annually in drug use prevention enlightenment”, she said.

    A director in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Isaac Idu, said the NSA’s office would support the fight against drug trafficking.

    Corps Commander Oladunni Olaniyan, a Corps Medical Rescue Officer with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the commission is involved in drug control programmes.

    “FRSC is partnering with NDLEA because when people take drugs and drive, they constitute a serious threat to lives and property,” Oladunni stated.

    A Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Celine Onunkwo, hailed NDLEA for reducing drug trafficking.

  • Woman docked for alleged cocaine peddling

    Woman docked for alleged cocaine peddling

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday arraigned a 35-year-old woman, Dorothy Ifeyinwa, in a Lagos Federal High Court for allegedly trafficking 1.72kg of cocaine.

    Ifeyinwa pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo granted her N1million bail with two sureties in the like sum, following an application brought by her counsel Mr Ifeanyi Okenyi.

    The judge said one of the sureties must be an officer not below Grade Level 15 and must depose to an affidavit of means.

    She added that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

    The prosecutor, Mr Abu Ibrahim, alleged that the accused committed the offence on April 11 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said during the outward clearance of an Emirates Airline flight from Dubai, 1.72kg of cocaine was discovered in the possession of the accused.

    The prosecutor said the accused was arrested and handed to the NDLEA for prosecution.

    Drug trafficking contravenes Section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • South African with cocaine in brassiere arrested at Lagos airport

    South African with cocaine in brassiere arrested at Lagos airport

    An attempt by a South African woman to smuggle 1.210kg cocaine from Nigeria to her home country was yesterday foiled by anti-narcotics officials.

    The 34 year-old apprentice chef was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, in the process of boarding a Johannesburg-bound plane.

    She allegedly concealed the substance packed in two parcels in her brassiere.

    The drug was detected by a female operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during passengers’ screening.

    NDLEA commander at the airport, Ahmadu Garba gave the suspect’s name as Lekganyane Lerato.

    Garba said “The suspect was intercepted during routine screening of passengers on South African airline. The drug was neatly concealed but certainly not good enough to escape our notice. She is currently under investigation and will be charged to court very soon.”

    The suspect said that she was lured into drug trafficking by friends.

    She said she “never imagined that the drug would be detected because it was carefully concealed inside my brassiere. A female officer requested to feel my boobs that was how the cocaine was detected. My travel expenses were handled by the sponsor who promised to pay me $3,000 when I get to Johannesburg but all my dreams have been dashed following my arrest” Lerato lamented.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.) expressed optimism that the chances of being caught with drugs are getting higher in the country.

    “Daily arrest of drug traffickers has validated our superiority. Drug trafficking organisations may try their best but they will end up in prison custody.”

     

     

  • Cocaine ingestion forces plane to land in Lagos

    An Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates has made an emergency landing in Lagos on Saturday due to the deteriorating health condition of a suspected cocaine trafficker.
    Screening by anti-narcotic officials found four passengers positive for drug ingestion who are currently under interrogation.
    One of the suspects in critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life.
    Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) who said that the suspect is responding to treatment called for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking.
    Abdallah said that the Agency needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking organisations.
    According to Abdallah, “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far recorded in the fight against drug control.
    ” Drug traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting involved in the criminal act. All hands must be on deck to condemn drug trafficking in its entirety”.
    NDLEA commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr. Ahmadu Garba said that the Emirates flight left Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai but was forced to come to Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board who ingested cocaine.
    “A passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three recurrent seizures thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos.
    “Upon arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion. They are Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the suspects are under observation” Garba stated.

    It will be recalled that the NDLEA has beamed its search light on flights originating from Brazil and Dubai in recent times because of its notoriety in cocaine trafficking.

  • NDLEA arraigns woman for planting cocaine in pastor’s house

    NDLEA arraigns woman for planting cocaine in pastor’s house

    The Federal High Court in Kano is set to commence the trial of a thirty year old woman who was caught planting cocaine in a pastor’s house by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The accused will appear before Justice Zainab Abubakar on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016.

    According to the NDLEA Kano State Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, preliminary investigation revealed that the accused Mrs. Joy Ogundare who lives in the same compound with Pastor Richard Ekenne was caught red-handed planting 2.2grams of cocaine in the apartment of Richard.

    The accused in her statement explained that she wanted to implicate Pastor Richard because of the misunderstanding between her and the Pastor.

    “I am not in good terms with Pastor Richard. We even have a pending case at the Magistrate Court here in Kano. That was why I wanted to plant cocaine in his apartment to implicate him but I was caught in the process by NDLEA Officers,” she stated.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.)  assured that the case will be diligently prosecuted adding that the Agency will continue to uphold the rule of law. “

    “The Agency respects the rule of law and will remain meticulous in its operations. We are pursuing this case to a logical conclusion. Everything possible will be done to prevent the innocent from being punished while the guilty will never escape justice,” Abdallah stated.

     

  • Cocaine trafficker sentenced to 12 years

     

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court 10, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Monday May 16, 2016 sentenced a thirty-one (31) year old technician, Michael Nwobodo to twelve years imprisonment with hard labour.

     

    The convict who attempted to escape on the day of arrest will now spend twelve years in prison custody with hard labour.

    He pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of cocaine, an offence punishable under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

     

    Justice Okon in his judgement observed that the illicit drug trade was not abating and that measures must be taken to stop the criminal act.

    NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) commended the ruling, adding that the agency will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs in the country.

     

    “This will serve both as a deterrent and a corrective measure to the convict and others who are involved in narcotic production, trafficking and abuse. The Agency will not relent in partnering with stakeholders in apprehending and prosecuting drug traffickers” Abdallah stated.

    It will be recalled that the convict who was arrested on February 29, 2016 with eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg on his way from Dubai attempted to escape by breaking through a glass wall at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

     

    He was later arrested and treated for the injuries he sustained. The 81 wraps of cocaine were concealed in Parker Whisky packs along with boxes of chocolates inside a duty free bag.

    Michael Nwobodo reportedly told officials that he was not under the influence of narcotics but only tried to escape because of fear of going to prison.

    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said that more passengers coming from Dubai had been found with cocaine at the Abuja airport in recent times.