The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah

  • NDLEA Destroys 54,244, 639kg of illicit drugs worth N10b in Kano

    NDLEA Destroys 54,244, 639kg of illicit drugs worth N10b in Kano

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) yesterday in Kano destroyed over 54, 244, 639kg of assorted narcotic drugs worth over N10 billion.
    Speaking during a brief ceremony witnessed by Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the state NDLEA chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd) raised the alarm over the high rate of Nigerian youths and women engaging in drug abuse and trafficking.
    According to him, the future of our youths should be paramount and from indication, with the involvement of them in drugs, the Federal Government must take immediate action to redeem their future and also tackle the menace of drug abuse.
    He added that, “in as much as the tonnage of the seized drugs for destruction today is a clear indication of a good performance by NDLEA, for 54.244 metric tons of drugs to be intercepted from a particular state in no such a long period of time is of unacceptable magnitude and quiet worrisome. It speaks of the extent and prevalence of these deadly substances in the state.”
    Giving details of the seizure, the NDLEA state Commander, Hamza Umar said it was a collective efforts of the state Command and the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport ( MAKIA ), NDLEA Command.
    According to him, “to fully appreciate the abnormality and magnitude of the problem, the two Commands within the last three years (2015-2017) made a total seizure of 12, 314, 3211 in 2016 and in 2017,  47, 12, 314, 3211KG from January to date, 14, 99, 424kg seizure was made as you can see the analysis of what we are burning today.”
    He said in all the figures, Cannabis Sativa was 11, 504.822kg, Psychotropic substances 42, 700.27kg, Cocaine 26.187kg, Heroine 13.360kg, adding that, “all the achievements would not have been possible without the full support of a visionary leader, His Excellency Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who provided condusive atmosphere to operate.”
    Umar also hailed the effort of the Joint Task Force that involved all the security agencies would not have worked positively without Ganduje’s moral and financial support, adding that the operational vehicles of the Command were mostly donation from Kano state Government.
    The NDLEA boss also used the opportunity to appeal to Governor Ganduje to facilitate the completion of rehabilitation centre which he said when completed will help in discouraging youths against the dangers of drug abuse.
    In his address, Governor Ganduje promised continuous support to NDLEA, just as he thanked Kano people, particularly the  Kano Concerned Citizens for their effort in curbing the menace of drug abuse among youths in the state.
     
    He added that apart from donating operational vehicles to NDLEA, his administration has continued to support the agency financially and otherwise, including the creation of a Special Taskforce that is aiding the agency in the fight against drug abuse.
    In his speech, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Youths and Students Affairs, Nasiru Adhama, regretted that crimes committed by youths are mostly caused by drug abuse.
    He advocated for more funding to the NDLEA, pointing out that, “how can the NDLEA fight drugs trafficking with meager Capital Budget of N127 million and total overhead of N393 million in 2017?”

  • NDLEA seizes cocaine, cannabis-noodles to China

    …suspects blame exchange rate, recession

     

     

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu have foiled a plot by a suspected drug trafficker to use innocent passengers to smuggle cannabis concealed in noodles to China.

     

     

    A clearing and forwarding agent who ingested seventy-four (74) wraps of cocaine was also arrested while attempting to board an Ethiopian airline flight to China.

     

    Both suspects have attributed their involvement in drug trafficking to high exchange rate and economic recession.

     

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah called on members of the public particularly passengers not to collect consignments from people.

     

     

    “This is a plot by suspected drug traffickers to use innocent passengers in smuggling drugs. Some persons may have fallen into this wicked plot if not for the timely intervention of the Agency.

     

     

    “It is instructive that people be aware of this trick because what they consider as an assistance may just send them to prison or early graves. This is because drug trafficking is punishable by death in China” Abdallah stated.

     

    Abdallah added that passengers must exercise caution in accepting bags from people.

     

     

    “To an average passenger, the suspected bag contained noodles but during search operations, the packs of noodles turned out to be cannabis. In the past, we have recovered drugs hidden inside books, parcels and even letters. It is important therefore that members of the public must act with utmost caution and avoid acts that could turn them into drug traffickers”.

     

    NDLEA commander at the Enugu airport, Adeofe Adeyemi gave the names of the suspects as Adibe Wisdom Baloba, 47, and Esonwunne Onyechi Benson, 31.

    “Adibe was caught during outward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian airline flight to China. He was found to have ingested 74 wraps of substance that tested positive for cocaine with a weight of 1.417kgs.

     

     

    The second suspect Esonwunne was caught attempting to send a luggage containing cannabis to China through an unsuspecting passenger. The cannabis was carefully prepared inside packs of noodles to avoid detection. Investigating officers are working very hard on the cases and the suspects will soon be charged to court” Adeofe stated.

     

    Meanwhile, preliminary investigation revealed that Esonwunne was twice deported from China in 2008 and May 2016 on immigration related offences.

     

    Esonwunne Onyechi Benson during interrogation blamed his involvement on economic recession. “I am a trader but due to the economic downturn I decided to smuggle cannabis to China. I concealed the drug neatly in packs of noodles because cannabis is expensive there. I was waiting for a passenger that will assist me in sending the bag of cannabis to China when NDLEA officers arrested me” he stated.

     

    Adibe who is a father of five children said that he accepted five thousand dollars to smuggle cocaine to China. “I am a clearing and forwarding agent but financial hardship and bad economy forced me into drug trafficking. The exchange rate is very high and I hardly get money to take care of my family. My sponsor promised to pay me the sum of five thousand dollars to take the drug to China. In the process of boarding the aircraft, I was arrested by NDLEA officers” he stated.

  • Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    Death row: NDLEA saves Nigerian from execution in China

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has prevented a thirty-eight year-old mother of two children, Obudike Faith Ndidiamaka from execution in China where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment.

    This followed her arrest by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos during outward screening of passengers on Kenyan Airways flight to China. She was found with 1.155kgs of cannabis hidden in melon.
    Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah who condemned her action said that the Agency needs fund to embark on aggressive anti-drug public enlightenment.

    According to Abdallah, “it is sad that while government is worried over the number of Nigerians on death row in other nations, a mother of two children is still smuggling drugs to China where drug trafficking is punishable by death.

    Her arrest here has saved the country from embarrassment. It has equally prevented her family from the pain of losing a loved one under the circumstance. The NDLEA will not relent in saving lives and promoting the image of Nigeria.”

    The Chairman said that most Nigerians in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not depart Nigeria with narcotics.

    “Most Nigerians who are in foreign prisons for drug trafficking did not take drugs from Nigeria. Some others were lured with fake promises of job opportunities by members of drug trafficking organisations only to find themselves stranded and vulnerable to drug trafficking.

    Those travelling abroad in search of greener pastures must have made adequate preparation for the period they will stay and also possess requisite technical skills. We are planning elaborate public sensitisation campaign to address this challenge” Abdallah stated.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba said that the suspect, Obidike concealed the drugs in melon and food stuff. “She was caught while travelling to China with 1.155kg of compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. Investigation into the case is in progress and she will soon be charged to court” Ahmadu stated.

    The suspect who lives in Onitsha said that she was contracted by her social media friend to smuggle the drugs to China. “I am a trader. I used to travel.

    He promised to give me a handsome reward when I get to China. Unfortunately, the drug was detected during search at the Lagos airport. I am married with two children” Obudike who hails from Imo stated.

  • NDLEA discovers cocaine in sweets wraps, arrests two suspects

    NDLEA discovers cocaine in sweets wraps, arrests two suspects

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered one hundred and ninety-three (193) wraps of cocaine inside packs of sweets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    The whitish substance concealed in sweets tested positive for cocaine and weighed 3.230kgs. Anti-narcotics officials discovered the drugs in the luggage of a twenty-four year-old female passenger from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A suspected member of the drug cartel was also arrested.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Ahmadu Garba said that the suspect who hails from Edo State was found in possession of the drug while a suspected member of the drug cartel in Lagos was successfully traced and apprehended.

    “One Igbainoba Uche Rose, who concealed 3.230kgs inside sweets was apprehended at the arrival hall during inward screening of passengers. A suspected member of the cartel, Ofor Kamsochukwu Chimezie was arrested on a follow-up operation. The suspects are being investigated,” Garba stated.

    During interrogation, Rose said that she works as a clerical officer after her secondary school. “I work as a clerical staff after I completed my primary school because there was no money to further my studies. I have suffered hardship in life, but a man offered to assist me establish my personal business. He promised to pay me half a million Naira. This was how I got involved in this problem” Rose said.

    Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah warned drug traffickers to desist from their criminal acts. “Drug criminals should shun their unlawful act because the Agency has perfected strategies to detect narcotics notwithstanding how cleverly they were concealed. Recent drug seizures clearly reflect the reformation of the NDLEA as an intelligence-led organization. We are determined to trace major traffickers behind the scene and prosecute the barons” Abdallah warned.

    The NDLEA Chairman assured Nigerians that no drug trafficker will go unpunished. In his words, “we are working hard to perfect the practice of aggressive follow-up on every case from the first to the last person behind every case of drug trafficking. Drug barons shall have no escape route. This way, drug trafficking will either be drastically reduced or completely eliminated from our society”.