The Nation Newspaper

Tag: illegal drugs

  • NDLEA arrests seven suspects in Kogi for ‘dealing in illegal drugs’

    The Kogi State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it arrested seven suspects for allegedly dealing and possessing 23.94 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances.

    Its state commander, Alhaji Idris Bello, told reporters that the suspects were arrested in various locations across the state.

    Bello said two of the suspects were arrested on Okene-Lokoja road with 66 bottles of Codeine syrup and 40 grammes of Rohypnol.

    The state commander said the suspects concealed the substances in bottles and packaged them in a popular noodles cartons in a luxury bus being conveyed from Enugu State to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He also said four other suspects were arrested in some flash points within Lokoja, the state capital.

    Bello warned peddlers of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances to stay away from the state, adding that the command would arrest and prosecute persons.

    He urged residents to always provide useful information that could help in ridding the state and the society of illegal drugs.

    According to him, most crimes are perpetrated under the influence of drugs.

    The state commander noted that once the use of illegal drugs is curtailed, the rate of crime will reduce drastically.

    Bello said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation into the cases is concluded.

     

  • Ogun inaugurates committee on illegal drugs

    As part of its commitments to rid Ogun State of all forms of drug-related crimes, the government has warned that it will deal decisively with illegal drug dealers. In the circumstances, it has set up a committee to fish out illegal drug dealers and those patronising them.

    Addressing reporters in Abeaokuta, the state capital, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services in the Ministry of Health, Mr. Olufemi Fafiolu said the government took the action against the backdrop of increase in illegal drug dealers and outlets.

    Fafiolu said the committee would commence raiding and picketing of illegal and counterfeit drug businesses, and food outlets that produce unwholesome processed foods for residents’ consumption from this month.

    He advised those who deal on illegal drugs as well as those who patronise them to desist from the acts, noting that anyone caught in the act would be prosecuted.

    “The government is worried over the influx of illegal drug dealers from Lagos State. It will not fold its arms and allow any unscrupulous elements to perpetrate any illegal drug deals,” Mr Fafiolu said.

    He added that the activities of the illegal drug dealers were responsible for the rise in the consumption of hard and illicit drugs among school children, especially in the primary and secondary schools.

    Fafiolu said government, in its attempt to curb the menace of illicit drug-related crimes and abuse among the youth, had established drug-free clubs in 22 public secondary schools across the state.

    The committee set up by the state government are made up of officials of the state’s ministries of health and justice, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the police.

  • Narcotis: NDLEA quizzes South Africa based evangelist

    Narcotis: NDLEA quizzes South Africa based evangelist

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South Africa based evangelist over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at Apapa Seaport, Lagos.

    The 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of ephedrine were detected inside two containers of foodstuff meant for export to South Africa.

    The arrest and seizure is a product of intense undercover operation by the NDLEA. The estimated street value of the drugs is 1.4 billion naira.

    Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said that the seizure has significant influence on the campaign against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

    In his words, “this is a product of careful planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and intercepted at Apapa Seaport, Lagos following the detection of narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s drug control efforts”.

    The NDLEA boss added that the Agency will remain meticulous in detecting drugs and prosecuting offenders.

    “I am very happy with the success recorded in this operation. The Agency will remain painstaking and professional in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse. We hope to unmask the drug syndicate behind this shipment and make more arrests soon” Abdallah promised.

    The drugs were hidden inside packs of melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as Gari (cassava flakes), noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam powder, Malt drinks, pepper, Milk, Herbal Hair Cream and Golden Morn cereals. Other items in the container are Damatol Hair Cream, bags of Melon, Kegs of palm oil, Beans, Biscuits, Sardine and Cartons of Orijin bitters.

    During examination of the containers marked MSKU 388274-1 and MSKU 424717-0; anti-narcotic officials detected 20kg of Methamphetamine and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first container and 72Kg of Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine in the second container.

    The total weight of the drugs is 165kgs.

    Officers successfully traced the illicit consignment to a fifty-two year old man who claimed to be an evangelist by name John Vincent Arinze who was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep belonging to him was also impounded at the time of arrest.

    The suspect hails from Ara village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. John who had lived in South Africa for over a decade accepted ownership of the illicit shipment.

    The suspect in his statement said that he made a big mistake by taking over the business of his late wife

    “I am an evangelist living in Durban South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died few years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business. It is all my fault,” he stated.

     

  • Lagos praised on fight against illegal drugs

    Irked by the increasing rate of illegal activities in the production of sub-standard drugs, the Special Assistant to the Imo State Governor on Lagos Liaison, Hon. Lisa Asugha, has praised the commitment of men of Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods towards sanitising the drug market. Asugha, who expressed her joy following report that the task force team had sealed off some illegal drug shops, as well as impounding fake drugs worth millions of Naira during a raid within Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state, said the action will reduce the spate at which people lose their lives as a result of consumption of fake drugs.

    The raid, which was conducted in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and officials of the Nigerian Police from the State Command, was in line with the Lagos State government’s effort to check drug adulteration and infiltration of the drug market by sub-standard imported and locally-produced drugs.

    “We can see the seriousness of the Lagos State government to deliver. That is why we are always partnering and backing their actions. Even at that, the state government’s programme and style of governance are synonymous with ours. The issue of health concerns lives, and if we don’t implement and enforce laws, we cannot succeed with it,” she said.

    Meanwhile, Hon. Asugha stated that the sealing off of the shops was based on the information which government received on the dangers which nefarious activities of illegal operators of patent medicine stores posed to the health of the people.

    “Now that the synergy between Lagos and Imo state governments has become strong, we will make sure that the people are well guided and protected. The action to sanitise drug markets is not aimed at punishing anyone. The sealed shops are owned by some of us who are bent on causing pains to the society,” she said.

    The liaison officer advised operators of pharmaceutical and patent medicine stores, especially Imo citizens, to ensure that their activities are covered by the law regulating their operations.