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Tag: NDLEA

  • NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel

    NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel

    • Agency arrests four in Onitsha, Keffi

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate during which multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills concealed in the bumper and false bottom of Toyota Sienna buses were recovered.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said four members of the syndicate were arrested.

    Babafemi said this followed weeks of surveillance by operatives of the agency.

    He said the Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted at Nasarawa- Toto Road, Keffi, Nasarawa State at 6pm on January 27.

    The spokesman said two suspects: Zahradeen Adamu, 27 and Abubakar Usman, 44, were arrested in the vehicle, which was coming from Onitsha, Anambra State enroute Yola, Adamawa State.

    He added that another Sienna bus driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also intercepted.

    Babafemi said during a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumper where a total of 190, 960 pills of tramadol were concealed in the space,designed for spare tyres.

    He said investigations indicated that an Onitsha-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri, was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment.

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    “A swift follow up led to the arrest of Mbaeri at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on 29th January. Two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house,” he said.

     Babafemi said operatives also intercepted a commercial bus from Onitsha at Abaji Checkpoint, Abuja on February 4.

    He said a passenger in the bus, Chimezie Henry Ojingwa, 32, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag was arrested and when his bag was searched, 404.47grammes of methamphetamine; 506.49grammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis and 262.32grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, which were concealed in the motor parts were recovered.

  • NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel, arrests four members in Onitsha, Keffi

    NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel, arrests four members in Onitsha, Keffi

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate during which multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills concealed in the bumper and false bottom of Toyota Sienna buses were recovered.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said four members of the syndicate were arrested.

    Babafemi said this followed weeks of intelligence and surveillance operations by operatives of the Directorate of Intelligence in NDLEA.

    He said a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted at Nasarawa- Toto road, Keffi, Nasarawa state on Tuesday 27th January 2025 at 6am. 

    The NDLEA Spokesman said two suspects: Zahradeen Adamu, 27 and Abubakar Usman, 44, were arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state enroute Yola, Adamawa state. 

    He added that a second Sienna bus driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also intercepted.

    Babafemi said during a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumper where a total of 190, 960 pills of tramadol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.

    He said investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra state-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment.

    “A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of Mbaeri at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on 29th January. Two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house,” he said.

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    Babafemi said in another interdiction, operatives of the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra State at Abaji checkpoint, FCT Abuja on 4th February. 

    He said a passenger in the bus, Chimezie Henry Ojingwa, 32, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag was arrested and when his bag was searched, 404.47grams of methamphetamine; 506.49grams of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis and 262.32grams of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, all of which were concealed in the motor parts were recovered.

    The statement reads, “In Cross River state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Ogoja -Abakaliki road, Yahe, on Thursday 13th February intercepted 170,000 pills of tramadol in a truck driven by Paul Chukwudi, 31, while operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Tuesday 11th February recovered 85,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a container imported from India.

    “Two suspects: Halilu Isa and Gambo Umaru were nabbed at Bama road, Maiduguri, Borno state on Friday 14th February with 60 compressed blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 72kg, while NDLEA operatives in Ekiti state on Tuesday 11th February raided

    “A notorious drug joint at Iloda street, Ikole-Ekiti where they arrested three suspects:

    Bala Muhammed, 57; Yahaya Adamu, 55, and Abdullahi Shehu, 30. A total of 83 kilograms of skunk were recovered from them.

    “In Lagos, 28-year-old Samiat Olabisi Yussuf was on Saturday 15th February arrested by operatives during a raid of her Lekki home where 169.5 litres of nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas and 111grams of Loud were recovered. Not less than 132.84 kilograms of skunk were recovered from two suspects: Ibrahim Usman, 40, and Solomon James, 40, in Taraba. 

    “While Usman was nabbed with 88kg of Arizona and Ghana Loud at Wukari, James was arrested with 44.84kg of same substance at Takanaba, Sabongari, in Jalingo LGA.

    “Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. 

    “Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Technical College, Oku, Akwa Ibom; Future Leaders Academy, Kishi, Oyo state; Government Secondary School, Bashire, Sokoto; Ehere Comprehensive School, Ogbor Hill, Abia; Government Day Secondary School, Taura, Jigawa state; and Jesuit College, Agbado Ekiti, Ekiti state; while Kano state command of NDLEA conducted WADA enlightenment lecture for married women in purdah at Markaz Umar Bn Khattab Centre, Kano, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of Directorate of Intelligence, Apapa, Cross River, Borno, Ekiti, Taraba, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.”

  • 14m Nigerians involved in drug abuse, says NDLEA

    14m Nigerians involved in drug abuse, says NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said no fewer than 14 million Nigerians are estimated to be involved and addicted to the consumption of harmful drugs.

    The agency’s Deputy Commander for Ondo State Command, Mrs. Yetunde Joyifous, said this yesterday at a drug abuse awareness programme organised by Oijefon Youth for secondary schools in Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo Local Government Area of the state.

    Joyifous said the abused drugs are mostly chemical substances that have the ability to change the mind of users negatively.

    The NDLEA chief said the only way to curb the menace is to engage all stakeholders in the community to partner with the authorities in the fight against the dangerous business.

    “I want to thank the Oijefon Youth Council for partnering NDLEA in the fight against drug abuse in ociety,” she said.

    Joyifous described youths, especially those at the secondary school level, as the most vulnerable victims of the drug abuse.

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    The NDLEA deputy commander stressed that effort must be intensified to salvage them from engagement.

    The President of Oijefon Youth Council, Adedokun Adeyonu, said the council organised the sensitisation programme to discourage youths from drug abuse.

    “Drug abuse means using harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs in a way that harms your body and mind,” he said.

    The youth leader noted that many people use drugs out of curiosity, peer pressure, or to overcome some problems, thinking this would be the only solution.

    Adeyonu also identified peer group, influence, watching movies or music as factors that push youths into drug abuse.

    He urged members of the society to help in creating prosperous life for the younger generation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted secondary schools students in Ile Oluji and officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA)

  • NDLEA: states now mandate drug tests for appointees, employees

    NDLEA: states now mandate drug tests for appointees, employees

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it had recorded some achievements in its war against abuse of narcotic substances, especially with the cooperation of sub-nationals.

    The agency’s spokesman Femi Babafemi said some state governments across the country have embraced NDLEA’s advocacy to make drug tests mandatory for appointees and employees.

    Babafemi said this yesterday on a national television programme.

    He said: “It’s an advocacy move, and that has been going on since 2021. Quite a number of state governments are already making this a policy in their states to ensure that whoever goes for an elective position or whoever is appointed to the state government undergoes drug tests. That is going on.

    “Like I said, it’s an advocacy move; it’s not a law. All we can do is to encourage the various stakeholders to buy into this.”

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    Babafemi said some politicians had been prosecuted for involvement in illicit hard drugs.

    “In the last four years, from our record, about 65 barons, including former public office holders had been arrested, prosecuted and convicted without mentioning anybody’s name to stigmatise them,” he said.

    The NDLEA spokesman said some of those arrested and prosecuted by the Buba Marwa-led agency had “held offices, may be at the level of the local government chairmanship position. Even as I speak, we still have quite a number of high-profile persons who are undergoing prosecution”.

    According to him, beyond being a policy for political positions, employers and tertiary institutions have also embraced drug tests as part of their screening process to admit new talents.

    Babafemi said: “This is going on, not only at the level of politics or those seeking employment, but also at the level of our young ones – those going into tertiary institutions – to ensure that they also undergo this test.”

  • NDLEA declares four wanted over cocaine shipments to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, others

    NDLEA declares four wanted over cocaine shipments to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, others

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared four associates of Lagos-based drug kingpin, Alhaji Suleiman Aremu Ganiu, also known as Barryshine or Ejeoto, wanted for their involvement in multiple drug trafficking operations.

    Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Monday.

    According to the statement, Barryshine is already facing criminal charges at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The statement indicated that the declaration follows an order issued by Honourable Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos, permitting the NDLEA to publicly list the suspects as wanted individuals. 

    The individuals declared wanted are Olarenwaju Ramon Abdulai, also known as Alhaji Loyingbo; Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye, who goes by the aliases Igbono, Baba Eje, Ade Iwaya, and Femi Iwaya; Olumuyiwa Olufemi Ilori, also called Murphy; and Alate Kafy Bakare Bukki of Kaffy Travels.

    Babafemi said in its ruling on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the court granted NDLEA’s request in charge no. FHC/L/731C/2024. 

    It ordered that Abdulai, Abidoye, Ilori, and Bukki be declared wanted by public notice, with their photographs conspicuously displayed, as they remain at large despite their involvement in multiple drug trafficking activities linked to Barryshine.

    The leader of the syndicate, Suleiman Ganiu Aremu, was arrested on August 26, 2024, following a two-year investigation by NDLEA, the statement indicated.

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    The suspect said he had been on the agency’s watchlist due to his role in four failed attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos between 2022 and 2024. 

    Babafemi said several of his drug mules have already been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted, while Barryshine himself is currently facing multiple criminal charges at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    The NDLEA called on the public to provide any information on the whereabouts of the four wanted suspects. 

    Individuals with relevant details are encouraged to report to the nearest NDLEA Command, call the agency’s toll-free helpline at 080010203040, or send direct messages to NDLEA’s social media accounts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok (@ndlea_nigeria), Facebook (@ndlea01), or YouTube (@ndleatv).

  • Deportee undergoes surgery in NDLEA custody after ingesting 81 cocaine pellets

    Deportee undergoes surgery in NDLEA custody after ingesting 81 cocaine pellets

    Suspected deported from Lebanon after failed test mission to deliver consignment for $3,000

    A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone an exploratory laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine that had remained stuck in his stomach for seven days after ingestion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Igbokwe, who passed through the near-death experience, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Arrival Hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) during the clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight penultimate Sunday.

    The agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement., said body scan revealed the presence of illicit drugs, leading to his detention for excretion observation, Babafemi said.

    He said investigations indicated that Igbokwe, who claimed to be a clothing trader at Arena, Oshodi, Lagos, had departed Lagos on January 22 for Addis Ababa, where he ingested 81 wraps  the following day.

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    The suspect, then, boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon, intending to deliver the drugs for a fee of $3,000.

    “Upon arrival in Beirut, he was denied entry for failing to meet the minimum cash requirement of $2,000 and was deported to Addis Ababa. There, he attempted to excrete the drugs but failed. He subsequently returned to Lagos on Saturday, January 25, still carrying the illicit consignment in his bowels. However, NDLEA operatives arrested him upon arrival at Lagos airport on January 26.

    “After five days of excretion observation, Igbokwe managed to expel only 24 pellets with initial medical intervention at the NDLEA medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.’’

    With time running out and complications arising from underlying medical conditions, he was admitted to a tertiary hospital, where he underwent surgery to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine. His wife and brother signed the necessary consent forms for the procedure on Thursday, January 30. In total, authorities recovered 81 pellets of the Class A drug, weighing 1.943 kilogrammes, from his stomach,” the statement said.

  • NDLEA arrests businessman after surgery to remove 57 cocaine pellets

    NDLEA arrests businessman after surgery to remove 57 cocaine pellets

    A 59-year-old businessman, Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe, has undergone an emergency laparotomy to remove 57 out of 81 cocaine pellets that remained lodged in his stomach for seven days after ingestion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Igbokwe, who narrowly escaped death, was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the arrival hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) during passenger clearance on an Ethiopian Airlines flight on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

    According to a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a body scan confirmed the presence of illicit drugs in his system, leading to his detention for excretion observation.

    Investigations revealed that Igbokwe, a self-proclaimed clothing trader at Arena, Oshodi, Lagos, had departed Lagos for Addis Ababa on January 22. 

    He ingested 81 wraps of cocaine on January 23 before attempting to smuggle them to Beirut, Lebanon, for a promised fee of $3,000.

    “Upon arrival in Beirut, he was denied entry for failing to meet the minimum cash requirement of $2,000 and was deported to Addis Ababa. There, he attempted to excrete the drugs but failed. He subsequently returned to Lagos on Saturday, January 25, still carrying the illicit consignment in his bowels. However, NDLEA operatives arrested him upon arrival at Lagos airport on January 26.

    Read Also: NDLEA intercepts UK-bound illicit drug consignment concealed in duvet at Lagos Airport

    “After five days of excretion observation, Igbokwe managed to expel only 24 pellets with initial medical intervention at the NDLEA medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. With time running out and complications arising from underlying medical conditions, he was admitted to a tertiary hospital, where he underwent surgery to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine. His wife and brother signed the necessary consent forms for the procedure on Thursday, January 30. In total, authorities recovered 81 pellets of the Class A drug, weighing 1.943 kilograms, from his stomach,” the statement reads.

    Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a consignment of 2,000 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Lekki Beach on Wednesday, January 29. 

    Two suspects, Sunday Awoyede and Christopher Cletus, were caught attempting to load the illicit shipment onto a truck. They were arrested along with the skunk consignment and the vehicle. 

    In a separate operation on the same day, another suspect, Lawal Idris Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 55kg of skunk during a raid in the Mushin area of Lagos.

    Across the country, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy efforts, conducting sensitization lectures and visits to religious centers, schools, workplaces, traditional rulers’ palaces, and communities. 

    “The past week saw awareness campaigns in several schools, including Grand Light Model School in Ata Udosung, Akwa Ibom; Community Grammar School in Iganna, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State; Ebute Afuye Primary School in Epe, Lagos State; Akwakuma Girls Secondary School in Owerri, Imo State; and Federal Government College in Kebbe, Sokoto State. Additionally, the Kogi State NDLEA Command paid an advocacy visit to the Attah of Igala, HRH Mathew Opaluwa Oguche, at his palace in Idah.

    “Commending the officers and men of the MMIA Strategic Command for their vigilance and professionalism in handling Igbokwe’s case, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), warned that drug traffickers not only destroy the lives of others but also put their own lives at great risk. 

    He also praised the Lagos State Strategic Command for preventing the massive skunk shipment from entering the country. 

    Furthermore, he acknowledged the dedication of NDLEA officers across the country in intensifying WADA social advocacy and sensitization campaigns, which contribute to the agency’s dual strategy of reducing both drug supply and demand,” the statement reads.

  • NDLEA seizes UK-bound drug consignment at Lagos airport

    NDLEA seizes UK-bound drug consignment at Lagos airport

    • Two arrested; kuchies, ‘suck and die’ opioids, weapons recovered; cannabis plantation in Kano destroyed

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in a duvet meant for the United Kingdom at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    In a statement, the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, linked to the consignment, were arrested.

    He said six parcels of the substance, weighing 3.50 kilogrammes, were concealed in the duvet.

    Balogun, identified as the main agent who hired Adakole, admitted to receiving N700,000 to ferry the consignment to the UK.

    He said he spent part of the money on export charges and used the rest to rent an apartment, Babafemi said.

    Also in Lagos, the agency operatives raided a hideout in the Igbo Olumo, Ikorodu, and arrested two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun.

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    Seven litres of skuchies—a new psychoactive substance made from black currant, cannabis, and opioids—were recovered.

    Other seized items included three local double-barrel rifles, one local double-barrel pistol, one English-made pistol, one local single-barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-headed axe.

    Also, on January 19, NDLEA officers seized 47 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 25.46 kilogrammes of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, at the notorious Akala area of Mushin, Lagos.

    In Ekiti State, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested on January 23, with 1.950 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud on Iworoko Road, Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

  • NDLEA intercepts UK-bound illicit drug consignment concealed in duvet at Lagos Airport

    NDLEA intercepts UK-bound illicit drug consignment concealed in duvet at Lagos Airport

    …destroys Cannabis Plantation in Kano

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in a duvet and packaged for export to the United Kingdom. 

    The interception occurred at the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos according to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy

    NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

    Two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, linked to the consignment, were promptly arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. 

    Six parcels of the psychoactive substance, with a gross weight of 3.50 kilograms, were concealed inside the duvet.

    In his statement, Austin Balogun, identified as the main agent who hired Adakole, admitted to receiving ₦700,000 to transport the consignment to the UK. 

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    He revealed that he spent part of the payment on export handling charges and used the rest to rent an apartment, Babafemi said 

    Also in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a hideout in the Igbo Olumo area of Ikorodu, arresting two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun. 

    Seven liters of skuchies—a new psychoactive substance made from black currant, cannabis, and opioids—were recovered during the operation. 

    Other seized items included three locally made double-barrel rifles, one locally made double-barrel pistol, one English-made pistol, one locally made single-barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-headed axe.

    In another operation on Sunday, January 19, NDLEA officers seized 47 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 25.46 kilograms of nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, at the notorious Akala area of Mushin, Lagos.

    In Ekiti State, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested on Thursday, January 23, with 1.950 kilograms of Canadian Loud along Iworoko Road in Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. 

    Similarly, in Kwara State, a suspect, Auwal Sani, was apprehended on Monday, January 20, in Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area. 

    A total of 50,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg, weighing 36.56 kilograms, were recovered from him.

    In Kano State, NDLEA operatives arrested a Nigerien national, Abubakar Lami, 45, alongside Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, at Gadar Tamburawa. The officers recovered 13.1 kilograms of skunk and 125 liters of suck and die, another new psychoactive substance. 

    Additionally, in the Gefen Kasa area of Dawakin Kudu Local Government, a cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed, leading to the arrest of Sabo Ali Muhammad, 45, linked to the farm.

    Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization and advocacy programs. 

    These activities included lectures at Army Children Secondary School in Oyo, Government Day Secondary School in Gwadangwaji, Kebbi State, Government Day Secondary School in Suleja, Niger State, St. Dominic Comprehensive College in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, District Junior College in Agege, Lagos, and the Pompomari community in Damaturu, Yobe State, among others.

    Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, and Ekiti Commands for their successful operations, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), also lauded their counterparts nationwide for intensifying the WADA social advocacy and sensitization efforts across their areas of responsibility. 

  • NDLEA arrests India-bound student with 76 cocaine wraps

    NDLEA arrests India-bound student with 76 cocaine wraps

    • Illicit drugs seized in Borno, Kano, Abuja

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted an attempt by a 26-year-old nursing student, Esther Onyinyechi Uzodinma, to ingest 76 wraps of cocaine before boarding her return flight to India.

    The suspect, a 200-level student at Noida International University in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested at the Royal Park Hotel in Sabon Gari, Kano, last Thursday, according to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi.

    Esther had planned to travel on Qatar Airways Flight 1432 to Delhi from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) the following morning, Babafemi said.

    However, NDLEA operatives intercepted the consignment concealed in an audio speaker on a commuter bus on the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State.

    The courier, Cosmas Okorie, 31, was arrested, leading to Esther’s subsequent apprehension.

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    According to Babafemi, Esther said a drug cartel in India recruited her for over $5,000 for the deal.

    To avoid suspicion, she spent two weeks in an Enugu hotel and moved to Abuja before heading for Kano.

     NDLEA officers also made multiple arrests and drug seizures across the country, Babafemi added.

     The agency officers arrested four suspects – Abdullahi Umar; Tijjani Samaila; Lucky Obotte and Abubakar Haruna – who were heading to Maiduguri, Borno State, Kano, and Abuja in commuter vehicles with over 38,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and 100mg concealed in audio speakers and cloths.

    Also, in Lagos, operatives on January 14 raided the hideout of Nwokedi Emeka Jonas, 59, in Ojodu-Berger, where they recovered 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, weighing 4.9kg as well as various paper bags he uses in dispensing the psychoactive substance in retail quantities. Printed on them were street names and codes such as ‘Dead man’; ‘Gelato top shelf smoke’; ‘Topshelf’; and ‘Gelato cake.