The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Drug trafficking

  • Two men plead guilty to drug trafficking

    Two men – Ismaila Cole and Succeder Ogbonna – who pleaded guilty to trafficking in 3.1 kg of hemp, were yesterday brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The prosecutor, Mr Orji Kalu, a lawyer with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), told the court that Ogbonna, 24, unlawfully dealt in 2.7 kg of hemp on March 23 at Gatan Kowa Market, Abule-Egba, a Lagos suburb.

    He said Cole, 27, unlawfully dealt in 400 grammes of hemp on March 17 at Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.

    The prosecutor said the accused were caught during raids by the agency.

    According to him, the offence contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation.

    He urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody and an adjournment to enable him review the facts of the case.

    The duo pleaded guilty.

    Justice Mohammed Idris said the accused should be kept behind bars and adjourned the case to May 27 for facts and sentence.

  • NDLEA arraigns man for drug trafficking

    A 31-year-old medicine hawker, Monday Okorie, who allegedly dealt in different types of psychotropic drugs, was yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) preferred a three-count charge of drug peddling against Okorie, who resides on Oniwaya Road in Agege, Lagos.

    The Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, a lawyer with the NDLEA, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 19 at his apartment.

    He said the accused unlawfully had in his possession 60 kg of Tramadol, 2.4 kg of Diazepam and 800 grammes of Rohypnol, psychotropic drugs similar to cocaine and heroin.

    According to him, the accused sold the harmful drugs to unsuspecting members of the public.

    The offence, Aernan said, contravenes Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation.

    The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending trial.

    The accused pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Mr G. U. Okaka, urged the court to grant him bail.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke will rule on the bail application tomorrow.

     

  • Kenyan dancer, two others held for drug trafficking

    Kenyan dancer, two others held for drug trafficking

    A Kenyan woman dancer and two Nigerians have been arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, for alleged drug trafficking.

    Odhiambo Susan Samira Johnson (42) from Kenya was caught with narcotics concealed in a school bags.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the four blue parcel of white powdery substance found in her possession tested positive for cocaine. The substance was said to have weighed 5.345kg.

    The Nigerians, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, (41) and Ndubuisi Offormadu Innocent (49) who are parts dealers in Uganda, were caught allegedly importing 6.250kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin into the country. The seized drugs weighed 13.085kg comprising 11.595kg of cocaine and 1.490kg of heroin.

    NDLEA Airport commander Hamza Umar said the suspects were apprehended trying to smuggle drugs into the country.

    Umar said: “We are investigating three suspected drug traffickers for importing narcotics into the country.

    “They include a Kenyan, Odhiambo Susan Samira Johnson who imported 5.345kg of cocaine from Bujumbura, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, for importing 6.250kg of cocaine from Uganda and Ndubuisi Offormadu Innocent who imported 1.490kg of heroin also from Uganda. In all, a total of 13.085kg of narcotics was recovered from them.”

    Susan, who was born in Mombasa travelled with Kenyan International passport with number A1536020. She departed Bujumbura in Burundi en-route Nairobi to Lagos on a Kenyan Airways flight.

    During routine screening, she was found with four parcels of cocaine concealed in school bags.

    Susan said she is a professional dancer in Kenya.

    “I was given the school bags in Bujumbura by a friend to deliver in Nigeria. When I got to the airport in Lagos, they searched my luggage and found the drugs,” she said.

    Chinedu, who hails from Anambra State, boarded an Ethiopian Airline flight from Kampala en-route Addis Ababa to Lagos.

    “I have lived in Uganda for two years. I am married with two children. I came to Nigeria to attend my brother’s marriage ceremony. While I was preparing to leave Uganda, my friend gave me a bag to take to his brother who lives in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the drug was detected,” he said.

    Innocent, who hails from Abia State, said he is a victim of circumstance.

    “I went to a friend in Uganda to lend me some money but he gave me the option of drug trafficking. I decided to give it a trial for the very first time and it turned out this way. I was promised $3,000 but I am very sad now because I am missing my wife and four children. I have lived in Uganda for 18 years,” he said.

  • ‘Frustration led me to drug trafficking’

    ‘Frustration led me to drug trafficking’

    •Suspect relives why he became courier

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested six persons at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, with 16.51kg of narcotics.

    The drugs include 10.27kg of cannabis, 1.31kg of methamphetamine and 4.93kg of cocaine. Two of the suspects were bringing cocaine from Brazil; two were taking methamphetamine to Tanzania and South Africa; one was taking cannabis to Doha, Qatar and the only female among them was going to Madrid, Spain with cocaine.

    NDLEA commander at the airport Hamza Umar said one of the suspects was found with liquid cocaine in body cream; another excreted wraps of cocaine on a plane.

    “We just arrested six suspected traffickers with drugs weighing 16.51kg including liquid cocaine.

    The suspects are Nwodo Anthony found with 3.260kg of liquid cocaine concealed in body cream from Brazil and Ikebalum Ogochukwu, who excreted 36 wraps of cocaine weighing 570 grammes.

    Madu Okey was caught with 975 grammes of methamphetamine while going to Tanzania. Nnadobe Anthony’s attempt to smuggle 335 grammes of methamphetamine to South Africa failed.

    Okoye Kelvin was caught smuggling 10.27kg of cannabis to Doha; the female suspect, Nwaokolo Omari was caught exporting 1.670kg of cocaine to Madrid.

    Okey (54) said he is a novice in drug trafficking.

    “I own a boutique in Nairobi, Kenya. My friend lured me into drug trafficking. This is my first time and I was arrested due to my inexperience. I regret my action”.

    Omari (32), mother of three, said she wanted to make quick money but was not lucky.

    “I buy and sell clothes. I lived in Spain for about a decade. I came back to Nigeria because of financial hardship. I do not have enough money to go back to Spain. This was how I found myself in drug trafficking. The most painful aspect of my arrest is that I told my friend to look after my children for a few days. By my calculation, I thought I could quickly smuggle the drugs to Spain and return within one week. I felt so bad when the drug was detected at the airport,” she said.

    Ogochukwu (31) said his problem started when he excreted cocaine while on the flight.

    “Life has been difficult for me. I met a Brazilian who decided to assist me. He gave me cocaine and paid for my ticket to Nigeria. He promised to pay me N1 million to start any business of my choice. My problem began when I excreted the drugs while on the flight,” he said.

    Anthony (32) said: “A friend gave me a bag to send to South Africa. When I got to the airport, 11 sachets of methamphetamine were found inside the foodstuff. That was how I got involved. Now I am suffering alone while my friend is on the run.”

    Nnamdi (37) said he has no regrets for his action.

    “I have worked and suffered as a casual labourer in Doha for two years and I was desperate to change my status. When you are frustrated, you can do anything. I took a risk but I was not lucky,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests 187 drug trafficking suspects in Imo

    NDLEA arrests 187 drug trafficking suspects in Imo

    The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said its officers arrested 187 suspected drug traffickers in Imo State between June 2013 and June 2014.

    The Imo State Acting Commander of the Agency, Assiana Nimbang, who disclosed this to Newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, during a press briefing to mark this year’s United Nation’s Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said that 170 males and 17 females were arrested within the time under review.

    She also revealed that the Command made a seizure of 54gms of cocaine, 226gms of heroin and 868.4kg of Indian Hemp, while 17 convictions were secured at the Federal High Court and another 112 Drug dependent persons were rehabilitated to handed over to their families.

    The NDLEA boss further expressed worry over the involvement of pregnant women and nursing mothers in the illicit, adding that, “it is really worrisome that the men now use pregnant women and nursing mothers to sell hard drugs in Owerri and it is difficult to arrest and detain a nursing mother or pregnant woman”.

    She also lamented the poor level of cooperation from the public, stressing that the war against drug trafficking should not be left for the Agency alone but should be a collective responsibility of everyone.

    In her words, “we are worried that people don’t come forward with credible information that can help us fight drug abuse. It is everybody’s responsibility and we should all be involved. The people should come up with information to help the NDLEA because the attitude presently is not encouraging”.

  • Woman docked for drug trafficking

    A 32-year-old woman, Ngozi Nsuofor, was on Friday charged with an attempt to export 100 grammes of heroine at a Federal High Court, Lagos.

    Nsuofor, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on drug trafficking.

    The prosecutor, Mrs O. Ahaji, told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 16 at the Departure Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

    She alleged that the accused had in her possession 100 grammes of heroine when she was arrested.

    Ahaji said the offence contravened Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    She urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending the determination of the case.

    Counsel to the accused, Mr Sunday Okwor, asked the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.

    The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa adjourned the case to May 21 for ruling and remanded the accused in prison custody.

  • Food vendor inserts cocaine in private part

    Food vendor inserts cocaine in private part

    cocaine exhibits recovered from chinelo okorom
    Cocaine exhibits recovered from the suspect

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a food vendor in Lagos, Chinelo Okorom Lynnette, 36, from smuggling 685 grammes of cocaine inserted in her vaginal.

    Anti-narcotic operatives apprehended her at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect ingested few wraps and inserted others in her vaginal.
    “The suspect tested positive for drug ingestion and vaginal insertion. She however expelled a total of 685 grammes of substance that tested positive for cocaine while under observation at the airport” Hamza stated.
    In her statement, the suspect disclosed that she was deceived into drug trafficking under the guise of importing female bags.
     “I am a food vendor at Ajangbadi, Lagos and have never been involved in crime. I am a victim of man’s cruelty to man. My husband abandoned me with four children two years ago.
    I work hard to pay their fees and ensure their proper upkeep. The last straw that devastated me was when the landlord forcefully ejected me. I had nowhere to turn to for solace.
    I was crying like a baby when a man came to console me. I have never met him in my life. He asked me to wipe my tears and promised to introduce me to importation business.

    I felt he was God sent until he sponsored my trip to Addis Ababa. When I got to Ethiopia, he told me to take cocaine to Nigeria. Initially I disagreed but he threatened to recover his investment at all cost” the suspect stated.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that drug traffickers always change routes and tactics.

     “Going to Addis Ababa to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria is one of the tricks employed by drug trafficking syndicates. Cocaine is not known to come from Addis but we were able to detect it because of our vigilance.
    We are prepared to counter the activities of drug kingpins and bring them to justice. We look forward to fruitful progress in our investigation” Giade stated.
    The NDLEA boss urged members of the public to be cautious of the tricks employed by drug syndicates adding that the suspect’s action is shameful.
    The suspect will soon be charged to court.

  • Man bags 20 years for drug trafficking

    Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a 40-year-old drug trafficker to 20 years in prison.

    The convict, Matthew Mgbeike, was sentenced by Justice Ibrahim Buba after pleading guilty to a count charge of importing, heroin, brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    “Following his plea, he is hereby found guilty and convicted as charged.

    “The convict is not a first time offender, as he was previously convicted by a court. He is not remorseful. Therefore, he deserves no mercy.

    “The convict is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine.

    “His sentence shall start running from May 31 last year,” the court held.

    Mgbeike, who had been sentenced to three years for a similar offence and was serving jail term, was yesterday produced from the custody to stand trial for another charge for which he jumped bail.

    When the matter was called up, he told the court that he wanted to change his not guilty plea.

  • Nigeria records success in anti-drug trafficking measures – Adoke

    Nigeria records success in anti-drug trafficking measures – Adoke

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, on Thursday said the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had recorded tremendous success in the fight against drug trafficking and its abuse in the country.

    Adoke told the News Agency of in Addis Ababa that Nigeria was determined to eradicate drug trafficking and its abuse, especially among the youth.

    “It was our success story in fighting drug trafficking, abuse and other related issues like consumption that made the United States government to recognise our efforts and delisted Nigeria from the list of trafficking nations,’’ the minister said.

    Adoke, who is attending the fifth session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Drug Control and Prevention in Addis Ababa, said the NDLEA would not relent in its effort at ensuring that Nigeria was not used as a transit nation by drug traffickers.

    “Nigeria is not a consuming nation for hard drugs, and we will ensure that the country is not also used for transit or as a route by drug traffickers, ’’Adoke said.

    The minister commended the Chairman of the agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, for his courage in the fight against the scourge which he said had been reduced to the barest minimum, and urged him to sustain the tempo.

    He said that the country would consider the report of the commission on the implementation of the decisions of the fourth session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Drug Control and Prevention.

    He further said that the report of the experts’ meeting and existing continental best practice in Drug Policy and Practice in Tanzania would also be considered.

    NAN reports that the session will elect the new bureau for the Conference.

    Nigeria’s delegates to the meeting included officials from the NDLEA and NAFDAC.