The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

  • Court remands suspected drug dealer in prison

    Court remands suspected drug dealer in prison

    …As NDLEA sets destroy 7 tons of hard drugs in Abia

     

     

    A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital has remanded a suspected illicit drug dealer identified as Ogbonna Paul Ugochukwu in Umuahia Federal Prisons after the suspect was dragged before it by the Abia Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    In a charge sheet FHC/Um/CR/23/17 Ugochukwu was accused of conspiracy and being in possession of outlawed drugs which he was smuggling into the state, though he pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against him.

    The Commander of the agency, Bamidele Akingbade in a chat with The Nation in Aba, the commercial hub of the state disclosed that the suspect was arrested in the state through a tip off while the suspect was alighting from a bus that brought him (suspect) into the state.

    Akingbade further stated that agency recently arrested a drug trafficker that smuggled drug into the state from Trinidad and Tobago in a water dispenser fridge.

    The Abia NDLEA boss who assured that the agency was not relenting in its efforts in curbing the activities of traffickers and sale of illicit drugs in the state hinted that the agency would soon destroy over 7 tons of illicit drugs that were confiscated in different parts of the state.

    According to him, the command with the recent successes it has recorded in its fight against sale of illicit drugs in the state especially in Aba, the commercial hub of the state stated that they were making efforts to establish their outposts in some of the places which served as safe havens for drugs traffickers and addicts.

    He further stated that efforts were on ground to ensure that they meet with patent drug dealers in Aba and its environs as a study carried by the agency showed that a lot of drug addicts now resort to consumption of psychotropic substances; Tramadol and Bernadine and Codeine which they bought from patent drug stores to satisfy their drug thirst.

    He warned that his agency would make sure that sale and consumption of illicit and outlawed drugs in the state would be reduced to the lowest ebb. This is as he solicited for the assistance and corporation of all in ensuring that the state was free from activities of drug merchants and consumers.

  • NDLEA destroys 16 hectares of hemp farm in Osun

    NDLEA destroys 16 hectares of hemp farm in Osun

    The Osun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) on Wednesday announced that 16.8 hectares of Indian hemp ( Cannabis Sativa ) farm located in Ikoyi community in the state had been destroyed.

    The Commandant, Mr Samuel Egbeola, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo on the achievements of the agency in Osun.

    He said that the farm was destroyed on Sept. 26.

    The commandant said that the farm was discovered and destroyed by the NDLEA, following a tip-off by an intelligence source.

    He said that during the operation, 25 kilogrammes of already harvested hemp were found on the farm.

    The NDLEA chief said, however, that no arrest was made during the operation because nobody was found on the farm.

    Egbeola re-assured people of the state that the agency would not rest on its oars until those involved in illicit drug operations were apprehended.

    He called on members of the public to cooperate with the agency by always giving useful information that would lead to the arrest of anyone involved in India hemp plantations.

    “We are appealing to the people of the state to always relate information on plantations, especially cannabis plantations to the NDLEA.

    “Our office is always open, so people with useful information are always welcome at anytime so we can all work together in ensuring a drug free state.

    “It is our mandate to rid the state of illicit drugs and this can only be made possible with the support and cooperation of the people.

    “We also use this medium to solicit for the support of the press”, he said.

    NAN

  • Court remands man for alleged possession of cocaine

    Court remands man for alleged possession of cocaine

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 32-year-old man, Ya’kau Audu, for alleged illegal possession of 2.7 grammes of cocaine.

    Audu, who was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ), is standing trial on a count charge, bordering on unlawful possession of cocaine.

    Counsel to NDLEA, Mr Mike Kassa, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Sept. 10 at Nyanya, Abuja.

    Kassa said the defendant was arrested on the same date by the police with 2.7 grammes of cocaine while driving a Honda Civic car.

    He said the offence contravened Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The defendant pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.

    Kassa, who urged the court to summarily convict the defendant having pleaded guilty, however, asked for a short adjournment to enable him present facts of the case.

    He also informed that the defendant was once convicted for one year imprisonment on Dec. 2, 2013 by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for trafficking seven grammes of cocaine.

    Counsel to the defendant, Mr Victor Edeh, however pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, adding that the defendant had become remorseful and self-reformed.

    Edeh said the defendant did not waste the time of the court by pleading guilty and had been cooperating with the prosecution in its investigation.

    The judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, consequently ordered the remand of the defendant in prison and adjourned the case until Oct. 4, for review of facts of the case.

  • NDLEA arrests 67 persons for drug trafficking in Edo

    NDLEA arrests 67 persons for drug trafficking in Edo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) in Edo says it has arrested 67 persons for allegedly trafficking in various drugs in the state.

    The Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Buba Wakawa, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin.

    Wakawa said the suspects that comprised 47 males and 20 females were arrested in various parts of the state between July and August.

    He also disclosed that suspected illicit drugs totaling about 779.572 kilogrammes were seized within the period.

    He said about 45.5 hectares of land estimated to yield about 216, 835 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis sativa were also destroyed.

    Giving a breakdown of the figure, the commander said that about 114.75 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis sativa were seized and about 667.62 kilogrammes of the same substance abandoned by the owners were confiscated.

    The commander said two grammes of Heroin; 26.1 grammes of suspected cocaine and 170 grammes of Psychotropic drugs were seized within the period.

    He further said that one vehicle was seized during the period.

    Wakawa described cannabis cultivation as a major threat to food security, peace and development in the state, and appealed for the urgent intervention of leaders at all levels.

    He said a cannabis survey was being conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) under the European Union ( EU ) funded project in collaboration with the Nigerian Government and technical support from the Nigerian Air Force.

    He explained that the exercise which was to access the scope of the problem in high-risk States had shown that what had been destroyed was “a tip of the ice berg”.

    According to the commander, vast expanse of fertile arable land in the state had been completely taken over by cannabis cultivators.

    He, therefore, called on the State Government to declare a State of Emergency to effectively tackle the situation due to its security implications.

    “The situation calls for a State of Emergency.

    “Our operations are impeded by huge logistic constraints.

    “Manual destruction of the farms is a far cry considering the magnitude of cannabis cultivation in Edo, besides the security implications, food shortage, unemployment, deforestation, environmental degradation and high rate of criminality all militate against good governance.

    “The Agency cannot win this fight in isolation and l call on the state government to intervene in addressing the situation before it further degenerates,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests man with hard drugs in Jos

    NDLEA arrests man with hard drugs in Jos

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) in Plateau on Tuesday said it had arrested a 25-year-old man, Zulkifil Aliyu, who specialised in illegal narcotics trade within Jos metropolis.

    The agency’s Commander in the State, Mr Ibrahim Bragi, confirmed Aliyu’s arrest to newsmen in Jos.

    Read also: NDLEA destroys 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa in Ekiti

    Bragi said that operatives of the agency arrested the suspect on May 19 at Laranto Village in Jos North.

    He said during his arrest, the operatives found on the suspect 200 grammes of Tramadol tablets; 150 grammes of Diazepam tablets; 74 grammes of Exol tablets and 51 grammes of Cannabis Sativa.

    According to him, the suspect in a confessional statement told the agency that he has been in the business for only three months.

    The commander said the suspect confessed that he was getting his supplies from a man at Bauchi Road, and he in turn sold the substances as a retailer for profit.

    “Aliyu says he makes a profit of up to N2000 on each card of the drugs he sells on the streets.

    “The suspect also says he wraps the weed on a small paper which he sells for a paltry sum of N40,” he said.

    He said that the suspect also confessed that he was at the Katako Motor Park to meet some of his buyers when operatives of the agency arrested him

    Bragi said that the suspect had been arraigned before a Federal High Court which adjourned the case to Sept. 19.

  • Customs seizes another 27 exotic vehicles, contrabands in Lagos

    Customs seizes another 27 exotic vehicles, contrabands in Lagos

    …Arrests 15 suspects

     

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone ‘ A’ Ikeja, Lagos has intercepted another 27 exotic vehicles, fake drugs and other items valued at N783.6million

    Fifteen smugglers, the Unit said, were arrested in connection with the seized items.

    The seized 27 exotic vehicles comprises of Toyota Prado, Toyata Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes Benz and other classic vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N228,215,429.1

    The vehicles, findings revealed, are 2007 and 2013 models.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos Monday, its Controller Mohammed Garba said, his officers also seized 145 sacks of 10kg each and 120 parcels of  1kg each of Indian hemp.

    The monetary value of the Indian hemp, the Controller said, is N72,960,000.

    Others contrabands intercepted by the officers and men of the unit were expired rice, frozen poultry, used tyres, used clothes and general merchandise.

    The Controller said the seizures were made between August 9 and 25, 2017.

    He listed other contraband intercepted within the period as including: 1, 237 of 50 kg bags of  rice valued at N15.2million; 137 bales of second hand clothing and lace material with DPV of N27million; 523 pieces of used tyres valued at N2.8 million.

    Others are 1,393 cartons of frozen poultry, one container marked FCIU 8437297 laden with used cars and other contraband, one container number, TCLU 178477/5 laden with 308 used truck tyres and tubes and. 858 cartons of rechargeable inverter battery packed in container marked PCIU 1884380.

    Garba added that the anti-smuggling unit recovered N252,1million from duty payments and demand notices on general goods intercepted outside the seaports, airports and borders.

    Garba said that the amount was realised from wrong classification, transfer of value and shortchange in duty payment.

    The Indian hemp and the fake drugs  were handed over at the event, to the official of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) respectively.

     

  • Kogi to partner NDLEA on drug abuse

    Kogi to partner NDLEA on drug abuse

    Lokoja, Aug. 24, (2017) Mrs Bolanle Amupitan, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Kogi, on Thursday said the state government would collaborate with the National Drug Law Enforcement agency (NDLEA) to control drug abuse in the state.

    Amupitan, who disclosed this while receiving NDLEA officials in Lokoja, said the state government would participation in this year’s commemoration of the international drug abuse day in the state.

    She also said that the state government would support drug addicts to overcome their challenges.

    She described poverty, marital problems and lack of parental care as some of the causes of drug abuse and called for support to rehabilitate the addicts.

    She assured the agency of the government supports, adding that there was an initiative of the Northern Governor’s Wives Forum (NGWF) to tackle the menace of drug abuse among the youths.

    The commissioner said the governor’s wife, Mrs Rashida Bello, would participate in this year’s celebration to encourage parents to guide their children against drug abuse.

    Earlier, the Commander of NDLEA in the state, Idris Bello, said the agency was ready to partner the state government to control the menace of drug abuse in the state.

     

  • Two brothers charged with aiding South African drug trafficker

    Two brothers charged with aiding South African drug trafficker

    Two brothers, Onowu Chucks Sunday and Onowu Isaac Chukwuka, who allegedly aided a South African apprentice chef, Lerato Lekganyane, in exporting 1.210 kilograms of cocaine, were Tuesday brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Sunday and Chukwuka, who is also known as Ezekwesili, were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before vacation judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka.

    They are standing trial on a three count-charge of conspiracy, unlawful exportation of the said banned drug, aiding and abetting.

    NDLEA prosecutor Augustine Nwagu alleged that the siblings between April and May, 2016, conspired with drug trafficking convict Lekganyane to export 1.210 kilograms of cocaine.

    Nwagu said the defendants on May 20, 2016, at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, without lawful authority exported 1.210 kilograms of Cocaine.

    He said Ezekwesili in particular aided Lekganyena to export the banned drug.

    The offences, according to Nwagu, were contrary to and punishable under 14(b), 11(B) and 14(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap 30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Nwagu pleaded with the court to remand them in prison, but their lawyer, Prosper Ojakovo, disagreed.

    Ojakovo said the first defendant had been admitted to administrative and he urged the court to allow him to continue enjoying the bail on the same terms.

    He applied for the court to grant Ezekwesili bail “in the most liberal terms.”

    In a bench ruling, Justice Anka, permitted the first defendant to continue on the previous bail terms but remanded Ezekwesili in custody.

    The matter continues tomorrow for hearing of the second defendant’s bail application.

  • NDLEA destroys 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa in Ekiti

    NDLEA destroys 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa in Ekiti

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ekiti State Command ‎on Tuesday said it had destroyed 246 tonnes of cannabis sativa (weeds) in the state.

    The Commander of the agency, Alhaji Bage Bamaiyi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti.

    According to scientists, Cannabis sativa, otherwise known as Indian hemp, is a drug obtained from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant which is smoked or chewed for its psychoactive properties.

    It produces euphoria and relaxation whose repeated use may lead to psychological dependence.

    He said the command took necessary steps to uncover ‎17 cannabis sativa farms at Ode-Ekiti, in Gbonyin Local Government Area of state but that the peddlers were not found in their hide-outs.

    “ When I received information about the 17 farms, I sent my officers to place surveillance on the farms and when I got to the farms, I observed that hectares of lands were used for cultivating cannabis.

    “Three mapped cannabis farms measures 42.66 hectares and  four unmapped cannabis farms measuring 8.05 hectares were destroyed, but we are unable to destroy the remaining 10 farms due to lack of logistics.

    “As soon as the needed logistics are available, we will visit the farms and destroy them.

    “But cannabis sativa weighing 246 tons (205 tonnes, mapped and 41 tonnes unmapped, were destroyed in the seven farms,” he said.

    He assured the public of the command’s determination to eliminate business of planting and peddling cannabis in the state, adding that   culprits would face the wrath of the law, when arrested.

    Ba‎maiyi, however, appealed to government at all levels to enable the agency  to perform optimally by  providing it  with   funds, manpower and vehicles.

  • Reps hunt informants over Patience Jonathan’s property raid

    Reps hunt informants over Patience Jonathan’s property raid

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for identities of informants whose tip-off led to raid on former First Lady, Patience Jonathan’s property.

    The House’s Committee on Public Petition gave the order on Wednesday in its session on a petition on incessant harassment of herself and family sent to it by the former first lady.

    The committee also summoned the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Police to appear as defendants in the petition.

    A Director in the NDLEA, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, had told the committee at the hearing that the agency got a tip-off from an unnamed source that the property located at Igbeti Rock Street, Maitama, Abuja, was being used for illicit drug activities.

    “Based on the information, eight officers of the agency visited the premises after surveillance was conducted on it. It is not true that 50 officers from my agency visited the premises,” he said.

    According to Oloruntoba, the officer who met two occupants of the premises provided them with a search endorsement form, which they endorsed indicating that the search was conducted without any damage to the property or loss of items.

    He said that the agency was not aware that the premises belonged to the former first lady, adding that a letter was written by a solicitor on behalf of a man who claimed to be the owner of the premises.

    Consequently, the committee requested NDLEA to provide it with the identity of the claimed source before the next adjourned date.

    The legal team from Granville Abibo & Co. led by Mr Sammie Somiari, who petitioned the lower chamber on behalf of Mrs Jonathan, had earlier told the committee that it would adopt the initial petition as its brief in the matter.

    Somiari added that additional documents were available to substantiate whatever they had raised in the petition.

    He said the respondents, including the mentioned agencies, had engaged in wanton attacks on the former first lady and her relations.

    He cited different media reports and newspaper headlines as pointers to the allegation of attacks on Jonathan.

    He said “the EFCC has serially orchestrated a design to freeze the personal accounts of Mrs Jonathan, her siblings and other relations and associates

    “A case in point is one Aridolf Jo Resort Wellness and Spa Ltd off Okota Estate and Finchley Top Homes Limited which were all shut down without any justifiable reason by the EFCC with their accounts frozen.”

    The committee asked its secretariat to send reminders to all agencies joined in the case that were yet to appear to provide documents regarding their role in the matter.

    It adjourned its session to Sept. 19, 2017.