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Tag: Hamza Umar

  • NDLEA secures conviction of 240 illicit drug users in Kano

    NDLEA secures conviction of 240 illicit drug users in Kano

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has secured the conviction of 240 suspected drug users in Kano State in the last six months.

    Mr Hamza Umar, the Commandant of the agency told newsmen in Kano on Tuesday in commemoration of UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

    He said the UN day, with the theme “Listen First’’, was marked globally on June 29.

    According to him, 768 suspects were arrested out of which 505 of them were counselled and 68 rehabilitated during the period.

    Umar explained that the 240 drug users were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms, while over 39.224 kilograms of different hard drugs including 6451.976 kilograms of cannabis were also seized.

    He added that among the illicit drugs seized were 327.15 kilograms of psychotropic substances, 358.3 kilograms of cocaine and 31.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.

    According to him, measures taken by the command have led to drastic decrease in terms of supply and consumption of hard drugs in the state.

    “The agency in Kano had commissioned a 16 man committee to steer and coordinate all plans and strategies aimed at curtailing the menace.

    “It is my belief that in preventing and controlling drug abuse, the community must be mobilised to be part of the war.

    “The major factors leading to drug abuse are in our community, the abusers are in our community, therefore, the full support and involvement of the various groups in the community is necessary,” the commandant said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was supported the Kano State Government, Society for Family Health and Taimako Support Group.

  • NDLEA arrests drug traffickers in police uniform

    NDLEA arrests drug traffickers in police uniform

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected drug traffickers who posed as police officers in Nasarawa area of Kano metropolis.

    Kano State Commandant of NDLEA, Alhaji Hamza Umar, told newsmen in Kano on Tuesday that the suspects were arrested in a brand new escort vehicle with police colour, siren, and pilot plate number and in possession of two police caps.

    According to him, the suspects were arrested blaring the siren and pretending to be police officers while conveying 715 kilograms of Indian hemp to Yobe.

    Umar said “during investigation by our officers, we discovered that the suspects were from Edo State, while their destination was Gashua, in Yobe State.

    “The two suspects who were arrested along with 715 kilograms of Indian hemp disclosed to us that they normally convey such exhibits once a month”.

    The commandant added that “if those people had succeeded in their mission to their destination, Yobe State, where the issue of insecurity is a major concern, only God knows what would have happened”.

    One of the suspects told newsmen that he was offered N200, 000 to convey the Indian hemp to Gashua.

    Meanwhile, the command has also arrested a lorry with Ebonyi State Government plate number on its way to Libya through Kano, loaded with 64 kilograms of Indian hemp hidden in fish packs.

    The commandant said the lorry was apprehended along with the driver and three other persons.

    “We are still investigating the suspects and i assure you we are getting more information from them that will assist us in getting the real owner of the exhibit.

    “At the end of our investigation, the suspects would be taken to the Federal High Court to face the law,” Umar said.

    The NDLEA boss added that in April alone, the command had intercepted over four tons of different illicit drugs and arrested 42 suspects, out of which seven had been convicted.

     

     

  • Man ‘hides’ cocaine in shoes, voltage regulator

    Man ‘hides’ cocaine in shoes, voltage regulator

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered 2.460 kilogrammes of cocaine inside women’s shoes and voltage regulators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

    A suspect, Nyeaka Chidiebere Anslem, who is married with five children, is being held in connection with the shipment.

    The seizures were made in a consignment of women’s shoes from Brazil on board an Ethiopian Airline flight and a shipment of voltage regulators meant for export to Gabon on a DHL cargo flight.

    The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, who said the shipment was abandoned, explained: “We found an abandoned luggage containing ladies’ shoes that originated from Brazil. During examination, 1.860 kilogrammes of cocaine was found inside the shoes’ soles. Our men at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) section of the airport also detected 600 grammes of cocaine hidden in a voltage regulator. A freight forwarder has been arrested in connection with the cocaine shipment to Gabon.”

    Anslem, 37, who hails from Imo State, said he was given the consignment by a client. He explained: “I am a freight forwarder with over five-year experience. A client gave me a bag containing three voltage regulators and hair attachment to send to Gabon. The NDLEA at SAHCOL, while searching the luggage, dismantled the voltage regulators and found five parcels of substances that tested positive for cocaine in one of the regulators.”

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the agency would continue to keep a close watch over Nigeria-Brazil route, while other African routes are being re-classified in line with current risk levels.

    “The NDLEA will continue to keep a close watch over Nigeria-Brazil route because of the high number of arrests and seizures made on the route. Recent drug seizures on some African routes have equally placed them on a high risk platform. We must continue to adopt effective strategies to prevent the sub-region from being used as a drug hub,” Giade said.

  • NDLEA detects cocaine in shoes, voltage regulators

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered 2.460kg of cocaine inside female shoes and voltage regulators at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    The seizures were made in a consignment of female shoes from Brazil on board an Ethiopian Airline flight and a shipment of voltage regulators meant for export to Gabon on a DHL cargo flight.

    The NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, explained that the shipment of shoes was abandoned.

    “We found an abandoned luggage containing ladies shoes that originated from Brazil. During examination, 1.860kg of cocaine was found inside the shoe soles. Our men at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) section of the airport also detected 600 grammes of cocaine hidden in a voltage regulator. A freight forwarder had been arrested in connection with the cocaine shipment to Gabon,” Hamza stated.

    The suspect, Nyeaka Chidiebere Anslem, 37, who hails from Imo State, said in his statement that he was given the consignment by a client.

    “I am a freight forwarder with over five years working experience. A client gave me a bag containing three voltage regulators and hair attachment to send to Gabon.

    “The NDLEA at SAHCOL while searching the luggage dismantled the voltage regulators and found five parcels of substance that tested positive for cocaine in one of the regulators,” Nyeaka said.

    The suspect is married with five children.

    The Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said the agency will continue to keep a close watch over Nigeria-Brazil route while other African routes are being re-classified in line with current risk levels.

    “The NDLEA will continue to keep a close watch over Nigeria-Brazil route because of the high number of arrests and seizures made on the route.

    “Recent drug seizures on some African routes have equally placed them on a high risk platform. We must continue to adopt effective strategies in preventing the sub-region from being used as a drug hub,” Giade said.

     

  • Kenyan ‘pilgrim’ caught with heroin

    Kenyan ‘pilgrim’ caught with heroin

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has begun investigations into the arrest of a 32-year-old Kenyan, Imeldah Awino Noah, who was caught with a substance suspected to be heroin.

    The suspect, who was in the country under the pretext of being on pilgrimage, was arrested following the discovery of the substance inside two pairs of female sandals in her luggage. The seizure took place during inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa.

    It was also gathered that she left Nairobi, Kenya for Bujumbura where she collected the luggage containing the drugs before proceeding to Nigeria through Addis Ababa.

    Confirming the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, said: “The drug was found inside the soles of two pairs of female sandals as well as in a false bottom of her luggage. She is cooperating with our investigating team.”

    Imeldah recounted her journey into the world of crime, saying: “My best friend masterminded my involvement in drug trafficking. I am a diploma holder in Community Health and Development at the African Institute of Development Studies in Western Kenyan town of Kisumu, Nyanza Province. After my one-year volunteer service, I searched for employment. My friend introduced me to her Nigerian boyfriend who offered to assist me by sponsoring my trip to Nigeria. Initially, I was reluctant but my friend persuaded me. They bought my ticket and gave me the bag containing clothes where the heroin was concealed. On arrival at the Lagos airport, the drug was detected.”

    Imeldah also told the investigators that she loved coming to Nigeria to receive blessings from her unnamed spiritual father.

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade urged the public not to be ignorant of the machinations of drug trafficking syndicates.

    “Drug barons sometimes present themselves as philanthropists. They will offer you free tickets and make all travel arrangements but the ultimate objective is to get you to smuggle their drugs from one point to another. The public should be on the alert and report suspected drug barons to the agency,” Giade said, adding that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

     

  • NDLEA arrests man with 107 ATM cards

    NDLEA arrests man with 107 ATM cards

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted one hundred and seven (107) Citi Bank credit cards.

    The automated teller machine cards were detected inside a luggage during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    A 36- year-old man with dual identity has been apprehended in connection with the discovered cards.

    NDLEA’s Airport commander, Hamza Umar, said that the suspect had two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names.

    “He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs.

    “The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master Cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards,” Hamza stated.

    The suspect, who is a native of Iwo town in Kwara State, lives in Surulere Lagos.

    The Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate of the Kwara State Polytechnic told investigators that he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.

    “My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey.

    “When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of Economics at the Kwara State Polytechnic,” he explained.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, directed that the suspect be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

    He said: “Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect had unlawful possession of 107 credit cards.

    “The financial instruments are believed to be used for fraudulent purposes since he is not an authorised agent.”

  • NDLEA nabs student for importing hemp

    NDLEA nabs student for importing hemp

    •I bought it with my tuition, says suspect

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a twenty year-old undergraduate at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos for importing 1.745 kilogrammes of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis popularly known as hemp.

    The suspect, Udiomeh Kufre Ita, was found in possession of the drug during the inward screening of passengers on an Africa World Airlines flight from Accra Ghana at the weekend.

    NDLEA Lagos Airport commander, Hamza Umar, said that the drug was detected during routine screening of passengers.

    He said: “The drug was hidden inside his bag containing personal effects. He was immediately arrested and the case is under investigation.”

    The suspect, who reportedly gained admission into the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Regent University, is currently assisting narcotic investigators assigned to the case.

    In his confessional statement, Ita said that he used his tuition fees to purchase the drug found on him.

    According to him: “I spent my school fees on cell phone, smoking hemp and attending night clubs. I bought a cell phone for N107,000 and spent my school fees recklessly.

    “I thought I could make enough profit from the sale of cannabis to offset the deficit in my tuition. I bought each parcel of hemp for 220 Ghana cedi.

    “I did not know what came over me and I am afraid to go to my parents. My father is a retiree.”

  • Spare parts dealer hides heroin in stomach

    Spare parts dealer hides heroin in stomach

    •Syndicate abandons drug at airport

    A 38-year-old auto spares’ dealer, Ohagwu Ernest Ifeanyi, who attempted boarding a Qatar Airline Flight to China with 735 grammes of substance suspected to be heroin hidden in his stomach, has been arrested. The drug, weighing 10.005 kilogrammes, is valued at over N80 million.

    A suspected drug syndicate also abandoned 9.27 kilogrammes of heroin brought in from Pakistan at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered the drug inside an abandoned luggage on the conveyor belt during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirate Flight.

    NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport Mr Hamza Umar described the seizure is a good way to start the year, considering the value of the drug.

    “The heroin seizures comprising 9.270kg imported from Pakistan and 735 grammes ingested by one Ohagwu Earnest Ifeanyi weighed 10.005 kilogrammes. The suspect was arrested following a positive test for drug ingestion,” Hamza stated.

    Ifeanyi, who hails from Enugu State, said: “I sell auto spares at Onitsha where I live with my wife and two children. My involvement in drugs was to enable me recover the N2 million loss I incurred in my business. A friend of mine who is based in China introduced me to drug trafficking. They were to pay me 2,500 dollars. They gave me the heroin to swallow in a hotel room in Lagos, but I was arrested at the airport.”

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, said: “Drug cartels only abandon their highly valued drugs when it becomes impossible to beat security checks. This seizure clearly underscores the agency’s steady progress in counter-narcotics operations.”

    “Besides taking the seized drug out of circulation, we have also prevented the suspect from facing possible death penalty in China for drug trafficking. The agency will leave no stone unturned in the fight against drug barons,” Giade added.

  • NDLEA arrests Malaysia-based Nigerian student

    … Caught with 1.430kg of methamphetamine

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have prevented a Nigerian student studying in Malaysia from premature death.

    The 31- year old suspect, Dike Chibuzor Vitalis, was caught in possession of 1.430kg of white crystalline powder that tested positive for methamphetamine on his way to Malaysia where drug trafficking attracts death penalty.

    He was intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, on Wednesday during screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight.

    He was immediately apprehended after the substance was discovered in his luggage.

    Vitalis could have joined other Nigerians in death row in the Southeast Asia nation if not for the intervention of the anti-narcotic Agency.

    The suspect who hails from Orlu, Imo State said that he was promised 4,000 dollars to deliver the drugs in Malaysia.

    In his words, “I was asked to take an empty bag to Malaysia for a fee of 4,000 dollars. When I got to the airport, the drug was discovered. That was how I got involved.”

    Speaking on the arrest, the NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar, explained that the drug was concealed inside the bag.

    “The drug was industrially packed in a way that we have to cut the sides of the bag open with a knife to discover the drugs. It will take a professional to detect the drugs,” Hamza stated.