The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

  • 24-year-old man pleads guilty to illegal possession of cannabis

    24-year-old man pleads guilty to illegal possession of cannabis

    A 24-year-old man, Abba Adam, charged with illegal possession of hard drug with intent to distribute it, was on Monday remanded in prison by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Although the accused pleaded guilty to the charge, the judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ordered his remand to enable forensic report on the case to be reviewed.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mrs M.E. Faruna, had prayed the court to adjourn the case until the forensic report was ready.

    Faruna also urged the court to remand Adam in prison pending the review of the facts of the case.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had charged Adam for illegally possessing 100 grammes of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as Indian hemp, with intent to distribute.

    The judge ordered that the accused be remanded in Suleja prison and adjourned the matter until Sept. 29.

  • NDLEA seizes 1.168 tonnes of illicit drugs, arrest 101 suspects in six months in Kaduna

    NDLEA seizes 1.168 tonnes of illicit drugs, arrest 101 suspects in six months in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it had seized 1.168 tonnes of illicit drugs and arrested 101 suspected drug traffickers in the state from January to June.

    The Commander of the agency, Mr Samuel Azige, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday.

    Azige Also said that 10 of the suspects had been convicted while the trial of other suspects were at various stages.

    He explained that out of the 1.168 tonnes of illicit drugs seized, Indian hemp constituted the highest with 608.917 kilogrammes, while psychotropic substance constituted 559.086 kilogrammes.

    He also said that two suspects were arrested with locally made AK47 pistol, a revolver and a Dane gun during the period.

    “The suspects have been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution,” the commander said.

    He also said that the command had conducted massive enlightenment campaign against the use and trafficking of illicit drugs within the period.

    “We enlightened students of Barewa College, Zaria, and students of Post-Basic Psychiatric Nursing in Kaduna.

    “We also reached out to patent medicine dealers in Jere, Kagarko Local Government Area of the state, and had intensive talk with them on controls of psychotropic drugs, “Azige said.

    He said that the command would continue to do everything within its powers to curb drug abuse and trafficking in the state.

  • Man jailed five years for selling cocaine

    Man jailed five years for selling cocaine

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, sentenced one Micheal Adebowale, to five years imprisonment for selling cocaine.

    Adebowale was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge bordering on drug trafficking.

    In the charge, the convict was said to have been arrested on July 6, at Oniru in Lekki Lagos, where he engaged in the sale and distribution of cocaine.

    Adebowale pleaded guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, said that following a tip off, the convict was arrested; adding that 0.7g of cocaine was recovered from him.

    Aernan tendered a written statement of the convict, a request for scientific aid form and a drug analysis form as evidence before the court.

    He also tendered the remnant of the narcotic substances that the convict unlawfully trafficked.

    The pieces of evidence were admitted by the court and marked as exhibits.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 11 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    He then urged the court to convict the accused accordingly.

    In his judgment, Justice Rilwan Aikawa found Adebowale guilty of the offence as charged and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, saying that the sentence should begin from the date of the arrest.

    Shortly before the sentence, the convict had pleaded for leniency, claiming to be a first offender and prayed the court to give him second chance and promised to be a changed person.

  • Barrow pusher to spend 12 months in jail for dealing in Indian Hemp

    Barrow pusher to spend 12 months in jail for dealing in Indian Hemp

    The Federal High Court in Lagos, on Wednesday, sentenced a 30-year-old wheel barrow pusher, Ibrahim Suraja to 12 months imprisonment for peddling 500g of Cannabis Sativa (Indian Hemp).

    Suraja was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dealing suspected to be in Indian hemp, had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him.

    After his plea, the prosecution counsel, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court and urged that Suraja should be convicted.

    Aernan tendered in evidence, a written confessional statement of the convict, a scientific aid form, a test analysis form, and the seized Indian hemp.

    The court admitted and marked the pieces of evidence as exhibits.

    In her judgment, Justice Rabiu Shagari, found the convict guilty of the offence as charged and sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest.

    In the charge, the prosecution said that the convict committed the offence on May 12, at a filling station in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Aernan said that the convict was arrested with 500g of Indian hemp, a restricted narcotic similar to heroine LSD (one of the most potent, mood-changing chemicals).

    The prosecution counsel said that the narcotic was seized from the convict, arrested and charged to court.

    The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 11(c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    During allocutus (plea for mercy) the convict, who was not represented by a lawyer, implored the court to show mercy on him.

    He promised to become a transformed person, if justice is tempered with mercy.

  • Man nabbed with N.5m cannabis in Jigawa

    Man nabbed with N.5m cannabis in Jigawa

    The Jigawa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday said it had arrested a 46-year-old man (name withheld) and seized from him 64.75kg of cannabis worth N500,000.

    The Commandant, Josephine Obi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse said the suspect was arrested on Sunday at about 10 a.m., along Chaichai road in Dutse.

    Obi said that the suspect had confessed to be piloting another vehicle conveying 250kg of the illicit drug.

    “The suspect was arrested by men of the command while on routine patrol along Chaichai road in Dutse.

    “The suspect was nabbed in an 8-seater Toyota bus with Reg: BV 305 LND, and we were amazed about the way he smartly concealed such amount of cannabis in the vehicle.

    “Every least expected space in the vehicle was filled with 69 parcel of compressed hemp.

    “He confessed being in this business for about two years and also confessed to be piloting another vehicle conveying similar drug.

    “Unfortunately, the other managed to escaped by noticing what was happening from far away,’’ the commander said.

    Obi alleged further that the suspect soaked the items in detergent solution to distort the odour of the substance in order to avoid detection.

    She urged members of the public to support the agency with credible information that would assist in tackling rampant abuse of illicit drugs in the state.

    Obi said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.

  • Three jailed for drug trafficking

    Three jailed for drug trafficking

    Three drug traffickers are to spend the next 39 months in jail,  Justice Joyce Abdumaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, has ruled.

    The trio — Dele Akanmu, Afeez Akeem and Ibrahim Mohammed – was convicted of trafficking in 6.270 kg of Hemp.

    Abdulmaleek, in three separate judgments, said the court convicted them based on the evidence before it and their pleas of guilt.

    “In order to serve as a deterrent to others, Akanmu is sentenced to three months in prison, Akeem is sentenced to one year in prison and Mohammed is sentenced to two years in prison.

    “The sentences start from the date of arrest of the convicts,” the judge said.

    Earlier, Mr Musbau Olapade, counsel to the accused, had urged the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing them.

    Olapade said the accused had learnt their lessons and would not go back to drug trafficking.

    Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), told the court that Akanmu, Akeem and Mohammed were arrested at different spots in Ibadan between March 30 and May 18.

    The prosecutor said Akanmu was apprehended with 270 grammes, Akeem was picked up with 1.5 kg and Mohammed was caught  with 4.5 kg of Hemp.

    The offence contravened Section 11 (C ) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.

  • Man bags 24 months imprisonment for drug trafficking

    Man bags 24 months imprisonment for drug trafficking

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 48-year-old Mechanic, Tunde Oseni, to 24 months imprisonment for trafficking in Cocaine and Heroine.

    The convict was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on two counts bordering on the offence.

    He pleaded guilty to the charge.

    After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

    Aernan tendered in evidence a written statement of the convict, a request for scientific aid form, a test analysis form, as well as the bulk of exhibit.

    These pieces of evidence were accordingly admitted by the court and marked as exhibits.

    In his judgment, Justice Ibrahim Buba found the accused guilty of the offence as charged.

    The court consequently sentenced the convict to a term of 24 months imprisonment on each count, adding that the terms shall begin to run concurrently from the date of his arrest.

    Before his sentence, the convict, who was not represented by a lawyer, had implored the court to show mercy on him.

    He had promised to become a transformed person if justice is tempered with mercy.

    In the charge, the prosecution said that the convict committed the offence on April 11, at Ipodo St., in Ikeja, Lagos.

    Aernan said that the convict was arrested with some restricted narcotics, including 700g of Heroine and 1.5kg of Cocaine.

    He said that the narcotics were seized from the convict, while he was arrested and charged.

    The offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 11(C) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • Spain deports 23 Nigerians for various offences

    Spain deports 23 Nigerians for various offences

    The Spanish Government on Tuesday deported 23 Nigerians for committing various offences in the country, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    They were deported barely five days after 34 Nigerians were sent home from six European countries for committing immigration-related offences.

    NAN reports that 34 Nigerians were jointly deported by six European countries on June 22 for committing immigration-related offences.

    The deportees were sent back home from Switzerland, Germany, Iceland, Austria, Belgium and Hungary.

    NAN gathered that the new set of deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos, at about 6.40 a.m on Tuesday.

    The new deportees, comprising 21 males and two females, were brought back in a privilege style aircraft with registration number EC-IZO.

    DSP Joseph Alabi, the spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, confirmed the development to NAN.

    Alabi said that the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    He said that others also on ground to receive them were officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    According to him, nine of the deportees, who were deported for drug-related offences, were handed over to the NDLEA.

    He said that two others, who were deported for criminal offences, were handed over to the police.

    Alabi said that the remaining 12 deportees, accused of breaching the country’s immigration rules, were profiled and allowed to go to their respective destinations. 

  • Yobe: Increase in drug abuse among females, worrisome – NDLEA

    Yobe: Increase in drug abuse among females, worrisome – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Yobe has described as ‘worrisome’ increase in number of females abusing drugs in the state.

    Commander of the agency in the state, Mr Apeh Reuben, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Monday that young girls between the ages of 15 and 35 were increasingly involved in drugs consumption and abuse.

    “Some of the females consume and abuse multiple drugs, especially Tramadol, Amphetamine and Cannabis,” he said.

    He called for partnership with Yobe government to curtail the ugly trend in the interest of the individuals and the state.

    “This will have devastating consequences on the future of the state if adequate measures are not taken at the right time” he warned.

    Speaking on the constraints of his agency in the state, Reuben said inadequacy of vehicles and accommodation for addicts being counseled, were their major challenges.

    He said the addicts were being accommodated in rented apartments, stressing that ensuring the welfare of such people, was paramount.

    Reuben said in spite of the challenges, his command was doing its best, adding that last year, no fewer than 98 drug dependent persons had been counseled.

    According to him, the agency is taking the campaign against drug abuse to schools in line with this year’s theme of the international day against drug abuse, which was celebrated on June 23.

    “The theme, tagged ‘Listen First to the children’ is the first step to assist children and youth to grow healthy and safe from drug abuse.

  • Unemployed man bags two years jail term for drug trafficking

    Unemployed man bags two years jail term for drug trafficking

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday sentenced a 28-year-old unemployed man, Aminu Ali, to two years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

    The convict was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a count charge of dealing in restricted narcotics.

    Ali pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Before his sentence, he begged the court to tamper justice with mercy and give him another chance to turn over a new leaf.

    Ali promised that he would be a better person in life, if given the opportunity.

    Following his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

    Aernan tendered a written statement of the convict, a bulk of exhibit, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form and remnants of the restricted substance.

    The court admitted them as exhibits.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Babs Kuewumi, found the accused guilty as charged and accordingly convicted him.

    Kuewumi said that the convict’s sentence would run from the date of his arrest.

    The prosecutor had told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 12.

    Aernan said that the convict was arrested at Alade area of Allen, Ikeja, in Lagos.

    He said that about 350g of Cannabis Sativa, known as hemp, was recovered from the convict, and was arrested and subsequently charged.

    The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.