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  • Educate Nigerians on dangers of drug abuse, Reps tells NDLEA, NOA

    Educate Nigerians on dangers of drug abuse, Reps tells NDLEA, NOA

    In anticipation of the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child on Friday, October 11, the House of Representatives on Thursday, October 10, called on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate with schools, community organizations, and religious institutions to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

    The initiative aims to promote a drug-free lifestyle and provide rehabilitation options for those affected.

    During a special session dedicated to the girl child, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, briefly stepped aside, allowing Miss Isabel Anani, a young girl, to preside over the plenary. This gesture was designed to inspire and encourage girls to take on leadership roles.

    The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Education to create practical strategies, such as mobile education units or community outreach programs, to reduce the number of out-of-school girls across Nigeria’s 36 states.

    In a motion of urgent public importance marking the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, the House requested the leadership of the National Assembly to amend the Child Rights Act to provide stronger protection for sexually abused children.

    They also called for legislative support, including budgetary approvals, to ensure that the concerned Ministries can address these issues.

    The House also emphasised the importance of domesticating the Child Rights Act nationwide through collaboration with the Conference of Speakers.

    It also asked the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure the swift passage of Bills that seek to protect women and girls like the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB).

    Ogbara said that International Day of the Girl Child is a day adopted by the United Nations to remind young girls of their uniqueness, strength, and prowess is set aside to address issues such as early or child marriage, violence against girls, rape, child molestation, education deprivation, nutrition, legal rights and all the other problems faced by girls and to support more opportunities for girls and increase awareness for gender inequality.

    According to her, more than 1.1 billion girls are poised to take on the future, adding that every day, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers; tackling issues posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalised communities.

    She stressed that the protection of the girl child is crucial for sustaining the continuity of mankind as they grow into women and mothers who not only shape the future generation but the trajectory of nations.

    She said further that gender discrimination is a global phenomenon that has engulfed many Nations of the world due to patriarchy and cultural stereotypes, while other nations have made giant strides in closing the gender gap, Nigeria is still grappling with these issues, starting from access to education, healthcare and access to basic amenities.

    She said that despite Nigeria being a signatory to the Convention of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Conventions on Child’s Rights and many others, harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are still being practised in some parts of the country which is a direct violation of human rights of women and girls.

    She said further that recent analysis shows that girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis, but hopeful for the future, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) children growing into adolescents, especially between the ages of 10 to 19 have limited knowledge about the natural processes of puberty, sexual health, pregnancy or reproduction.

    She said: “This period of their lives is a period of rapid development of knowledge and skills, learning to manage emotions, and relationships, acquiring attributes and abilities that will be necessary for enjoying the adolescent years and assuming adult roles.

    “When they are sexually abused at this sensitive season of their lives, it affects their growth and development and their overall well-being, leading them to become dysfunctional adults in some instances, due to psychological and mental trauma”.

    She expressed worries about the disheartening high number of out-of-school girls engaged in drug abuse; current data indicates that Nigeria has an estimated 10.5 million out-of-school children who are also users of hard drugs

    The Lagos lawmaker said the presence of such a vast number of uneducated youth not only jeopardises their future but also poses a threat to the nation’s security and socio-economic stability, adding that if deliberate efforts are not taken to address the challenges and intentionally to protect the girl child, the country would be at risk of raising dysfunctional mothers who are meant to be protectors of the home, society, and the future.

    Miss Anani who presided over the special session which lasted for about 20 minutes said: “Today marks a very important day in the lives of girls all around the world. It is a constant reminder of how far we have come and how much progress we are willing to make as Nigerians.

    “For me, I envision a future where every girl regardless of where she comes from has an opportunity to flourish. Where education isn’t seen as a high pedestal privilege, but as an essential tool to equip girls to make important decisions that affect them and ultimately the places they come from.

    “According to the UN, Nearly | in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today, as if that isn’t concerning enough, they are at risk of harassment and the “‘what ifs” that are associated with violence which simply should not exist.

    “I want a future where we don’t have to combat all the overwhelming experiences of childhood and adolescence alone. Where girls aren’t discriminated against because of their bodily functions, and are encouraged when they want to take firm hold of the mantle in places like STEM and politics and feel safe, feel wanted. As an aspiring woman in STEM, I know what it is like to be the only girl in male-dominated spaces. However, I don’t want to be the only girl, I want to be one of many.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests Canadian woman over drugs importation

    “I want a future where the healthcare system for girls isn’t discriminated against due to the sociocultural factors that so wrongfully exist. Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including living with disabilities and in marginalised communities in their ways regardless of what society says.

    “Now more than ever, we need girls to combat problems of climate change, political conflict, economic degeneration, diseases, and global unrest. We need to ensure that for every girl, there is; Access to healthcare that protects her and understands her needs. Access to quality education that enables her to reach her potential.

    “Safety from Violence and Harmful Practices that affect her physically, emotionally, and mentally. How would she take charge when she lives in constant fear? How does she dream when she is worried about what her next meal might be?

    “Most importantly, she needs support because we all have a role to play. The good thing is that we are halfway there and every day, a step closer to achieving these goals. Also, there isn’t just one solution, but hundreds. There isn’t just one girl to talk to, but millions. For us to continue at this steady progression, we mustn’t just provide her a seat at the table, but we must make sure she stays there and feels like she can conquer.”

  • Row over NDLEA’s husband approval rule for married women seeking visa clearance

    Row over NDLEA’s husband approval rule for married women seeking visa clearance

    A requirement stating that Nigerian married women must submit a letter of approval from their husbands before getting a visa clearance certificate to travel out of the country by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) has set tongues wagging. 

    However, in a swift reaction on Thursday, October 10, the NDLEA said it has removed this requirement. 

    Checks by The Nation revealed that NDLEA visa clearance certificate provides proof that you have not been convicted of any drug-related offences in Nigeria.

    In the now-phased out requirement, women must present a letter of approval from their husbands before being cleared for travel.

    In addition to the approval letter, married women are also required to submit a passport photograph as part of the application process.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests Canadian woman over drugs importation

    Critics on social media platforms argue that this policy reflects outdated views on women’s rights and independence, potentially hindering their ability to travel freely.

    The viral tweet reads: “NDLEA’s visa clearance requires that a married woman should bring a letter of approval to travel from her husband along with his passport photograph. There is no such rule for men. This is such disgusting government-sponsored misogyny. Are married women children?” 

    Reacting, NDLEA said: “The entire procedure for visa clearance issued by the NDLEA as required by some countries is currently undergoing review, and the requirements for a married woman to present a letter of approval from her husband to travel are one of the items the agency has since jettisoned as mandatory items on the list.

    “The inclusion of that item abinitio arose following some ugly developments in some source countries.

    “Members of the public are assured that the items have been deleted from the list of requirements.”

  • NDLEA arrests Canadian woman over drugs importation

    NDLEA arrests Canadian woman over drugs importation

    • N9b opioids intercepted in Rivers

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos for importing large consignment of ‘Canadian Loud’, a strain of synthetic cannabis.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said the suspect was arrested last Thursday during the inward clearance of passengers on KLM airline flight from Canada at the Terminal 1 of the Lagos airport.

    Babafemi said during a joint examination of her three bags, Adrienne, who was coming to Nigeria for the first time, was found with 74 parcels of the illicit substance weighing 35.20 kilogrammes stuffed in two of her three bags.

    According to him, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the consignment through an online platform for $10,000 upon successful delivery in Lagos.

    Read Also: Police raise alarm over high rate of cybercrime

    She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s programme in Canada.

    Also, the agency’s operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports, Onne, Rivers State have intercepted 13,298,000 pills of opioids, including Tramadol, Tramaking Quick Action Tramadol, Tamol-X, Royal Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, as well as 338, 253 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, worth over N9,017, 771,000 in street value.

    Babafemi said the opioids were recovered in three containers coming from India, targeted by the NDLEA during a 100 per cent joint examination of the cargoes with men of the Nigerian Customs and other port stakeholders last Wednesday and Thursday.

    The statement reads: “Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the Tin Can Seaport in Lagos on Thursday, October 3 intercepted 100 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 50kg. The consignment was packed in 20 parcels each in five jumbo bags concealed in a container with four units of imported vehicles that came from Canada.

    “Though the container had earlier been cleared  from the ESS Libra Bonded Terminal in Ikorodu but based on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives were able to trace it to a warehouse in Ikorodu where the illicit consignments were discovered in one of the imported vehicles, a Toyota Sienna bus.

    “A suspect, Abubakar Shuaibu Ibrahim has already been taken into custody in connection with the seizure.’’

  • NDLEA arrests Canadian woman for drugs at Lagos airport

    NDLEA arrests Canadian woman for drugs at Lagos airport

    …recovers large consignments of illicit drugs in Ikorodu warehouse, others

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 41-year-old Canadian woman, Adrienne Munju, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for importing a large consignment of ‘Canadian Loud’, a strong strain of synthetic cannabis.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, October 6, said the suspect was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on KLM airline flight from Canada at terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Thursday 3rd October 2024.

    Babafemi said during a joint examination of her three bags, Adrienne who was coming to Nigeria for the first time was found with 74 parcels of the illicit substance weighing 35.20 kilograms stuffed in two of her three bags.

    According to him, in her statement, she claimed she was recruited to traffic the consignment through an online platform for 10,000 Canadian dollars upon successful delivery in Lagos.

    She said she took the offer because she needed the money to pay for her ongoing master’s degree programme in Canada.

    In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports, Onne, Rivers state have intercepted 13,298,000 pills of opioids including Tramadol, Tramaking Quick Action Tramadol, Tamol-X, Royal Tapentadol and Carisoprodol as well as 338, 253 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, all worth over N9,017, 771,000 in street value.

    Babafemi said the opioids were recovered in three containers coming from India, targeted by the NDLEA during a 100% joint examination of the cargoes with men of the Nigerian Customs and other port stakeholders on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd October 2024.

    The statement reads: “Similarly, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan seaport in Lagos on Thursday 3rd October intercepted 100 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 50kg. The consignment was packed in 20 parcels each in five jumbo bags concealed in a container with four units of imported vehicles that came from Canada.

    “Though the container had earlier been cleared out of the ESS Libra Bonded Terminal in Ikorodu based on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives were able to trace it to a warehouse in Ikorodu where the illicit consignments were discovered in one of the imported vehicles, a Toyota Sienna bus. A suspect, Abubakar Shuaibu Ibrahim has already been taken into custody in connection with the seizure.

    “In Taraba, NDLEA officers on Thursday 3rd October intercepted a commercial bus marked JAL 198 YQ coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Jalingo. Large quantities of opioids: tramadol, Rohypnol and codeine-based syrup concealed in body compartments of the vehicle were recovered when it was searched, while two suspects: Pako Thomas and Emmanuel Anyigor were arrested.

    Read Also: List of countries offering job visas without pre-existing job offers

    “Another suspect, Chibuzor Okafor was arrested at Wukari on Wednesday 2nd October with 80 blocks of cannabis weighing 38kg hidden in bags of garri.

    “In Lagos, a suspect Bolanle Ajenifuja was on Friday 4th October arrested at AfoMedia area of Ojo where 700 litres of skuchies, a mixture of local Chapman and a cocktail of illicit drugs were recovered from her, while three suspects: Ezekiel Akpele; Elijah Michael; and Goddard John, were nabbed same day when NDLEA operatives raided two cannabis farms located at bridge camp, a boundary community between Edo and Ondo states.

    “Not less than 9,966.332kg of the substance was destroyed on over three hectares of farmland with 48kg of the already processed psychoactive substance recovered.

    “With the same vigour, Commands, and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week. These include WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Science Secondary School, Musawa, Katsina; students and teachers of Akanu Ibiam Memorial Seminary School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; students and staff of Community High School, Ile Ogbo, Osun, and students of Dominion Secondary School, Okon, Akwa Ibom state, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, Edo, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”

  • Drug war, traffickers and option of fine

    Drug war, traffickers and option of fine

    Sir: The staggering volume of drugs seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekly, sometimes makes me jittery each time I read their operational successes in what has now become a Sunday-Sunday dosage of their press statements.

    What is more worrisome is the issue of court fines often issued by some judges when delivering judgements in the cases of major drug trafficking offenders. I am baffled because these seem to undermine the whole essence of the drug war in Nigeria. Within the last eight months, the news reports surrounding the arrest, prosecution and conviction of two notable drug kingpins: Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, and Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji with similar court verdicts are clear examples of court rulings that will not help the country in her war against drug use and dealing.

    According to the reports available online, Uwaezeoke Christian who was first arrested on March 19, 2022 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia had ingested a total of 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms. He was arraigned in an Abuja Federal High Court and granted bail under definite conditions, but he later absconded, though his bail conditions were revoked and arrest warrant issued. This unrepentant drug dealer would reappear 16 months later on August 1, 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos, using a different passport, under a different name “Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi.”

    He was rearrested by the NDLEA operatives. This time, he was reattempting to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India through ingestion, the same method he used before at the Abuja Airport. He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge preferred against him; he was convicted and sentenced on October 18, 2023 to a total term of seven years imprisonment or a fine of ₦1,500,000.00. The drug dealer ceremoniously and joyfully paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the importation case pending against him.

    In a matching report, Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji on arrival from Uganda via Addis Ababa, on board Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday May 10, 2023 having being found to have ingested 93 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.986 kilograms. Subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja, he was convicted on July 13, 2023, and sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of paying a fine of N3 million. Again this drug dealer opted for the fine, happily paid and was set free. Fast forward to Wednesday September 18 during an inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight passengers from Addis Ababa to Lagos, Ogbuji was arrested with a total of 817 pellets of cocaine excreted by many traffickers in Addis Ababa weighing 19.40kg.

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    Evidently, these two scenarios bring to our faces the sad reality of the option of fines for drug kingpins. The option of fines as a way out for drug dealers and their protégés in our judicial system certainly encourages them to continue to engage in criminal and illicit acts of drug dealing across the world, undermining our justice system and the current concerted drug control efforts.

    What this means is that Nigeria can’t continue on this path of option of fine for drug dealing offenders who end up as recidivists. Who will tell our judiciary the fine option is not reforming these criminal elements or helping our country? Who will tell the National Assembly as a matter of urgency to conclude the amendment of the NDLEA Act by removing the option for fine?

    For the sake of public health, law and order, our future and those of our children, it will be good if someone will help deliver this message now.

    •Agbontaen Okogun,Benin City, Edo State.

  • NDLEA arrests Lagos community leader, wives, son over drug trafficking

    NDLEA arrests Lagos community leader, wives, son over drug trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has at the weekend nabbed a wanted kingpin, the community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba.

    This, the agency said, followed the  arrest of the community leader’s two wives: Hauwa and Asma’u and son, Sadat, as well as the seizure of a total of 226.2kg cannabis at their homes in Badagry on September 18.

      It also nabbed a wanted drug kingpin Ajiboye Damilare Samuel (a.k.a Na God) after 12 months of evading arrest.

    Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said Ajiboye was arrested at a bank in Ogun State by the agency’s Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigation, which traced 20 bank accounts to the suspect and blocked them.

    Read Also: On the proposed monthly rent collection in Lagos

    Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said also following his arrest, the suspect’s warehouse in Akala, Mushin, Lagos, was raided by operatives, where a total of 1,101 kilogrammes of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was recovered on September 4.

    Babafemi said in Katsina, two ex-convicts: Muhammad Machido, 44, and Zakari Ya’u Buhari, 32, were arrested by NDLEA operatives with illicit substances.

    He said while Muhammad was nabbed along Kano-Katsina highway, Kankia, last Monday, with 51,000 pills of opioids, Zakari was arrested in Daura with 14 blocks of cannabis weighing 7kg.

    He said Zakari was first arrested on February 8, 2024 and sentenced by court to 15 months’ imprisonment with an option of 15,000 fine, which he paid.

    Muhammad’s case was earlier arrested with 45kg cannabis sativa and 2.5kg tramadol on December 12, 2022 and sentenced to two years in prison.

    According to the statement, the agency also arrested an auto spare parts dealer Ejiofor Nnaemeka Chiwuzie for attempting to export consignments of heroin and loud, a strain of cannabis, concealed in LED rechargeable lamps and sofa metal legs through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

    Babafemi said Ejiofor was arrested last Tuesday at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos where he sells auto spare parts , following the seizure of his cargo containing auto parts, rechargeable lamps, sofa metal legs and electronics going to Liberia at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

    He said concealed inside the LED lamps and sofa legs were 37 parcels of heroin weighing 1.10 kilograms and four blocks of loud with a total weight of 1.20kg. A follow up led to the arrest of two freight agents and Ejiofor.

    The statement reads: “In the same vein, attempts by drug trafficking networks to export consignments of loud, tramadol pills, co-codamol tablets, pentazocine injection, dihydrocodeine and promethazine tabs through some courier companies to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Oman were foiled by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to the logistics firms.

    “While 2.3kg of loud hidden in a carton was going to Thailand, 749 grammes of tramadol concealed in soles of local footwears were heading to Oman, with 60 ampoules of pentazocine injection going to the United States.

    “No less than 200 pills of co-codamol were meant for Australia while a total of 700 tablets of dihydrocodeine, promethazine and tramadol as well as 20 ampoules of pentazocine injection concealed in soles of footwears were heading to the United Kingdom. Going to Canada were 58 ampoules of pentazocine injection hidden in female clothes. All the seizures in the courier houses were made between September 23 and 24 in Lagos.

    “In another operation in Lagos, no less than 9.7kg cannabis sativa and 50 litres of monkey tail, a fermented combo of cannabis and dry gin, were recovered from a suspect Florence Moses at Badore area of Ajah, Lekki on Tuesday 24th September.

    “In Kogi, three suspects: Owolabi Dele, 42; Ayodele Monday, 40; and Olawale Ojo, 22, were arrested by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway while conveying 132 sacks of cannabis weighing 2,062.00kg in a Mercedes container truck from Osun state to Dei Dei in Abuja. Another suspect, Benedict Simire, 57, was arrested at Ayetoro Road, Kabba, conveying 33.40kg of the same psychoactive substance and a pump action gun with six cartridges on Wednesday, September 25.

    “On the same Wednesday, operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA intercepted a two 40HP Yamaha engines boat bearing 71 bags of Ghana Loud weighing 2,982kgs along Alfa beach, Lekki area of Lagos. Men of the Nigerian Customs Service Western Marine Command were on hand to support the NDLEA officers to recover the boat and exhibits after the two suspects in the boat dived into the water.

    “Also, on September 25, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State intercepted 1,500 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup containing a total of 150,000 bottles during a joint examination of a targeted 40ft container, with men of Nigerian Customs and other security agencies.

    “While NDLEA operatives in Niger State recovered 6,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection from Chukwudi Nwanoche, 38, at the former Minna city gate, their counterparts in Kano arrested Aminu Danmanya, 31, with 15,530 capsules of tramadol at Kano Residential Hotel, Katsina Road.

    “In Plateau State, operatives on Friday 27th September arrested a female suspect Jummai Luka, 58, behind Jehovah Witness junction, Kabong, Jos North LGA, in possession of 12,000 pills of tramadol while NDLEA officers in Oyo state on Tuesday 24th September nabbed.

    Segun Asogba, 50, with 601kg  cannabis sativa and a Dane gun at Igangan town.

    “While Benjamin Benjamin Ebei, 33, was arrested at Biase LGA Cross River State, with 38kg cannabis recovered from his vehicle, operatives in Edo State on September 24 raided a house along Okpuje road, Uzebba in Owan West LGA where they arrested a suspect Idonuan Ajilo, 53, and seized 112.5kg cannabis from his store.

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) applauded the commands for their efforts, urging them not rest on their oars.

  • NDLEA arrests two wanted kingpins, two ex-convicts for drug trafficking

    NDLEA arrests two wanted kingpins, two ex-convicts for drug trafficking

    …Lagos community leader, wife, son arrested for drugs

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday 25th September arrested a wanted drug kingpin Ajiboye Damilare Samuel (a.k.a Na God) after 12 months of evading arrest.

    Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said Ajiboye was arrested in a bank in Ogun state following well-coordinated efforts by the Agency’s Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigation, which traced 20 bank accounts linked to the suspect and blocked them.

    Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said also following his arrested the suspect’s warehouse in Akala, Mushin area of Lagos, was raided by operatives, where a total of 1,101 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was recovered on 4th September 2023. 

    The spokesman said in like manner, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday 27th September arrested another wanted kingpin, who is the community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba.

    He said this followed the arrest of the community leader’s two wives: Hauwa and Asma’u and son, Sadat as well as the seizure of a total of 226.2kg cannabis at their homes in Badagry on 18th September. 

    Babafemi said in Katsina, two ex-convicts: Muhammad Machido, 44, and Zakari Ya’u Buhari, 32, were again arrested by NDLEA operatives with illicit substances. 

    He said while Muhammad was nabbed along Kano-Katsina highway, Kankia, on Monday 23rd September with 51,000 pills of opioids, Zakari was arrested in Daura with 14 blocks of cannabis weighing 7kg.

    He said Zakari was first arrested on 8th February 2024 and sentenced by court to 15 months’ imprisonment with an option of 15,000 fine, which he paid. 

    It indicated that in Muhammad’s case, he was earlier arrested with 45kg cannabis sativa and 2.5kg tramadol on 12th December 2022. He was then sentenced to two years imprisonment.

    According to the statement, the Agency also arrested an automobile spare parts dealer Ejiofor Nnaemeka Chiwuzie over an attempt to export consignments of heroin and loud, a strain of cannabis, concealed in LED rechargeable lamps and sofa metal legs through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

    Babafemi said Ejiofor was arrested on Tuesday 24th September 2024 at the Trade Fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos where he sells automobile spare parts following the seizure of his cargo containing auto parts, rechargeable lamps, sofa metal legs and electronics going to Liberia at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

    He said concealed inside the LED lamps and sofa legs were 37 parcels of heroin weighing 1.10 kilograms and four blocks of loud with a total weight of 1.20kg. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of two freight agents and then Ejiofor who sent the consignment.

    The statement reads: “In the same vein, attempts by drug trafficking networks to export consignments of loud, tramadol pills, co-codamol tablets, pentazocine injection, dihydrocodeine and promethazine tabs through some courier companies to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Oman were foiled by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to the logistics firms.

    “While 2.3kg of loud hidden in a carton was going to Thailand, 749 grams of tramadol concealed in soles of locally made footwears were heading to Oman, with 60 ampoules of pentazocine injection going to the United States. 

    “No less than 200 pills of co-codamol were meant for Australia while a total of 700 tablets of dihydrocodeine, promethazine and tramadol as well as 20 ampoules of pentazocine injection concealed in soles of footwears were heading to the United Kingdom. Going to Canada were 58 ampoules of pentazocine injection hidden in female cloths. All the seizures in the courier houses were made between Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th September in Lagos.

    “In another operation in Lagos, no less than 9.7kg cannabis sativa and 50 litres of monkey tail, a fermented combo of cannabis and dry gin, were recovered from a suspect Florence Moses at Badore area of Ajah, Lekki on Tuesday 24th September.

    “In Kogi, three suspects: Owolabi Dele, 42; Ayodele Monday, 40; and Olawale Ojo, 22, were arrested by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway while conveying 132 sacks of cannabis weighing 2,062.00kg in a Mercedes container truck from Osun state to Dei Dei in Abuja. Another suspect Benedict Simire, 57, was arrested at Ayetoro road, Kabba, conveying 33.40kg of same psychoactive substance and a pump action gun with six cartridges on Wednesday 25th September.

    “On the same Wednesday, operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA intercepted a two 40HP Yamaha engines boat bearing 71 bags of Ghana Loud weighing 2,982kgs along Alfa beach, Lekki area of Lagos. Men of the Nigerian Customs Service Western Marine Command were on hand to support the NDLEA officers to recover the boat and exhibits after the two suspects in the boat dived into the water.

    “Also, on Wednesday 25th September, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers state intercepted 1,500 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup containing a total of 150,000 bottles during a joint examination of a targeted 40ft container, with men of Nigerian Customs and other security agencies.

    “While NDLEA operatives in Niger state recovered 6,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection from Chukwudi Nwanoche, 38, at the former Minna city gate,  their counterparts in Kano arrested Aminu Danmanya, 31, with 15,530 capsules of tramadol at Kano residential hotel, Katsina road.

    “In Plateau state, operatives on Friday 27th September arrested a female suspect Jummai Luka, 58, behind Jehovah Witness junction, Kabong, Jos North LGA, in possession of 12,000 pills of tramadol while NDLEA officers in Oyo state on Tuesday 24th September nabbed Segun Asogba, 50, with 601kg  cannabis sativa and a Dane gun at Igangan town.

    “While Benjamin Benjamin Ebei, 33, was arrested at Biase LGA Cross River state, with 38kg cannabis recovered from his vehicle, operatives in Edo state on Tuesday 24th September raided a house along Okpuje road, Uzebba in Owan West LGA where they arrested a suspect Idonuan Ajilo, 53, and seized 112.5kg cannabis from his store.

    “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 Girls Secondary School, Kafur, Katsina; students and teachers of Akinlade Primary School, Ajah, Lagos; students of St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River; and WADA advocacy lecture at the palace of Aree of Iree town,Osun state, Oba Muritala Oyelakin, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of DOGI, DAFI, MMIA, Onne, Marine, Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Oyo, Plateau, Niger, Kano, Edo, and Cross River 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.”

  • NDLEA seizes N16.1b drugs in Lagos

    NDLEA seizes N16.1b drugs in Lagos

    • Arrests octogenarian, community leader’s wives, son
    • •Iran-bound drug suspect excretes 76 wraps of cocaine at Kano airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA) has intercepted a total of 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol, and 350,000 bottles of a codeine-based syrup at the Tin Can Port complex in Lagos.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement yesterday, said the tapentadol are worth N13,725,000,000 while the codeine consignment is worth N2,450,000,000 bringing the total value of the seizures to N16,175,000,000.

    Babafemi said the seizures were made on September 17 and 20, this year, from three containers, which were on the watchlist of the agency.

    He said when the containers landed the NDLEA requested for 100 per cent joint examination of the shipments with men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies.

    “The tapentadol consignment packed in 500 cartons was discovered in one of the containers on Tuesday, September 17 while another container examined the same day contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container containing 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine was examined on September 20,” he said.

    Al;so, operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command of the agency last Friday arrested an 80-year-old grandpa, Pa Aremu Shojobi, with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis at his home in Iyana Ipaja.

    “In his statement, the octogenarian claimed he had been in the business for 25 years. He further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin Republic, and sells from his residence between 7am and 10pm daily,”  Babafemi also said

    He added that NDLEA operatives in Lagos on September 18 raided the two homes of a community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, where a total of 226kg of cannabis was recovered from his two wives and son.

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    “Though Alhaji Talba is at large, a search of his house in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry led to the recovery of 93 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 57.6kg from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, 35, and son, Sadat Bashiru, 22, while another search of his house at Aketegbo, Seme Badagry led to the seizure of 302 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 168.6kg from his second wife, Hauwa Bashir, 42.

    “No less than 720 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 390kg were also recovered from a Mitsubishi delivery van marked MUS 720 XH at Ojo area of Lagos on September 16.

    “At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, NDLEA operatives on Sunday, September 15 arrested a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony, while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha with 76 wraps of cocaine in his stomach. After three days in excretion observation, Okafor excreted the 76 pellets of the ingested cocaine weighing 1.267kg.

    “In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway on Tuesday, September 17 recovered 700,000 pills of exol-5 coming from Lagos for distribution in Kano and Kaduna.”

  • NDLEA intercepts N16.1bn worth of opioids in Lagos

    NDLEA intercepts N16.1bn worth of opioids in Lagos

    ….arrests octogenarian, community leader’s wives, son for drugs

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a total of 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol, and 350,000 bottles of a codeine-based syrup at the Tincan port complex in Lagos.

    Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, September 22, said the seized tapentadol has an estimated street value of N13,725,000,000 while the codeine consignment is worth N2,450,000,000 bringing the total value of the seizures N16,175,000,000.

    Babafemi said the seizures were made on Tuesday 17th and Friday 20th September 2024 from three containers that had been on the watchlist of the Agency following processed intelligence.

    He said as a result, the NDLEA had requested for 100 percent joint examination of the shipments with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

    “The tapentadol consignment packed in 500 cartons was discovered in one of the containers on Tuesday 17th September while another container examined the same day contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container containing 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine was examined on Friday 20th September,” the statement reads.

    Babafemi also said operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command of the Agency on Friday 20th September arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Pa Aremu Shojobi with 14 kilograms of cannabis at his home in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

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    “In his statement, the Octogenarian claimed he has been in the business of selling illicit drugs for 25 years. He further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin Republic and sells to his customers from his residence between 7 am and 10 pm every day,” he said

    He added that NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Wednesday 18th September raided the two homes of a community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West LCDA, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, where a total of 226kg of cannabis was recovered from his two wives and son.

    “Though Alhaji Talba is currently at large, a search of his house in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry led to the recovery of 93 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 57.6kg from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, 35, and son, Sadat Bashiru, 22, while another search of his house at Aketegbo area of Seme Badagry led to the seizure of 302 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 168.6kg from his second wife Hauwa Bashir, 42.

    “No less than 720 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 390kg were also recovered from a Mitsubishi delivery van marked MUS 720 XH at Ojo area of Lagos on Monday 16th September.

    “At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 15th September arrested a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha with 76 wraps of cocaine in his stomach. After three days of excretion observation, Okafor excreted 76 pellets of the ingested cocaine weighing 1.267kg.

    “In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 17th September recovered 700,000 pills of exol-5 coming from Lagos for distribution in Kano and Kaduna, while a suspect Udemefuna Chibuike, 23, was arrested by operatives on Friday 20th September along Mokwa-Jebba road, Niger state, in possession of 49,000 tablets of tramadol, 20,000 tablets of diazepam, 100 ampoules of tramadol injection and 50 bottles of cough syrup with codeine,” the statement reads.

    According to the statement, a total of 451 blocks of cannabis weighing 213kg were intercepted along Azikiwe road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday 18th September, by NDLEA officers who apprehended a suspect Ogochukwu Paul, 33, conveying the consignment to a notorious drug haven in Borikiri.

    It reads: “While operatives in Plateau state on Friday 20th September arrested a wanted suspect Jonathan Ali Abuttur, 46, at Agingi- Rukuba road Bassa LGA in possession of 808kg of cannabis sativa concealed in 68 bags of sugar and fertilizer, their counterparts in Kwara also nabbed Shaibu Musa with 28kg of the same psychoactive substance.

    “With the same vigour, Commands, and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities among others in the past week.

    “These include WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Rayhaan Model Academy, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state;  Government Day Secondary School, Danrimi, Malumfashi LGA, Katsina state; Technical College, Ihe-Achi, Oji River LGA, Enugu state; Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state; fresh students of Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele Ibadan, Oyo state; traders at Agboju market, Festac town, Lagos and the palace of Oloola of Ilara, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Lawal Oyede and his chiefs, at Ilara, Ogun state, among others.

    “While commending the officers and men of Tincan, MAKIA, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Kogi, Edo, and Kwara Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”

  • NDLEA intercepts 2.4m tramadol pills in Gombe

    NDLEA intercepts 2.4m tramadol pills in Gombe

    •Agency arrests two brothers behind shipment

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gombe State, have arrested three suspects: Auwal Abdullahi, Isah Rabiu and Abubakar Da’u, on the Bauchi-Gombe Road while travelling in a DAF truck marked GME 552 ZU. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 2,490,000 pills of tramadol concealed with bags of salt.

    Director, Media & Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said: “A suspect, Idris Adamu, 23, was arrested with 41.5 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa at Kachia town, Kaduna State on September 10 while two suspects: Godiya Sekyen Jikuk, 36, and Yusuf Umaru,65, were nabbed at Isinbode -Ekiti, Ekiti State with a total of 73.6kg cannabis on September 11.

    Also, an Ibadan-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola Dorcas, and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora, have been nabbed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville.

    During a search, he said, the consignment of 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.70kg and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol had cartons of foodstuffs.

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    The freight agent of the cargo, Owojori Olanrewaju Sunday, was arrested.

    Another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem Temitope, and son of Mrs. Adewumni,  was also arrested.

    “A follow up operation on Saturday 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.

    In his statement, Owojori confessed that he had been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the U.K., adding that he was paid N2,411,000 for the job, while he was paid N2.1million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier,” the statement reads.