Tag: NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared an ex-beauty queen, Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye, wanted for dealing in illicit drug activities.

According to a statement released by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, the suspect, who held the title of Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of the Queen Christmas Foundation, was declared wanted. 

The declaration came after she fled her Lekki estate to evade operatives who had received intelligence suggesting her involvement in illicit substance dealings.

Babafemi said recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.

He said the suspect also known as Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas “has been declared wanted by the Agency after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.

Babafemi: “The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation. Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.”

He also said two members of an international drug trafficking syndicate: “Sunday Michael Owoborode, 52, and Valentine Anene were arrested the next day Thursday 25th January at Edu Orita, Ogun state where Valentine was being prepared to travel with some drugs to Qatar the same day on board a Qatar airline flight from Lagos. 

He said: “At the time of their arrest, 1.8kg cannabis, electronic weighing scale and other illicit substances were found on them. In another interdiction operation by operatives in Lagos, a 50-year-old Sunday Adediran, was arrested on Wednesday 24th January with 20kg cannabis sativa found in one of the rooms in his house at Mushin Olosha.”

He also said operatives Agency have arrested a Brazil returnee, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 60 big wraps of cocaine.

He said the suspect who was arrested during inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport on Sunday 21st January 2024, initially refused to undergo a body scan, raising health concerns in a desperate bid to evade arrest.

Babafemi said: “When he was however offered other options, he accepted to be placed on excretion observation and shortly after he was ushered into NDLEA observatory, he excreted the first set of cocaine pellets, after which he expelled a total of 60 wraps of the class A drug weighing 1.279 kilograms in five excretions.

“In his statement, Udechukwu claimed he ingested the consignment in Brazil and was to discharge everything at the airport in Addis Ababa but could only excrete 15 pellets which he handed over to another member of his syndicate before his connecting flight to Nigeria was called,” the statement reads.

He said in the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 23rd January recovered a total of 12 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing five hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred (599,900) pills weighing 385.40kg from an overstayed cargo at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport after a joint examination with other agencies. He said they were however placed under watch by NDLEA operatives since then.

The statement reads: “The tramadol consignment had come into the country in two batches on KLM Royal Dutch Airline flights from Karachi, Pakistan between 27th July and 1st August 2023. 

“Not less than 822 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden in a fuel station located at Ashipa community along Badagry-Seme road were recovered by operatives of the Seme Special Area Command of NDLEA, while a suspect Sani Audu, 35, was arrested with 111.3kg of same substance at Maigatari town in Jigawa State on Tuesday 23rd January.

“In Yobe state, two suspects: Mohammed Usman and Adamu Ma’azu were arrested on Saturday 27th January with 49 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg at Damaturu motor park, Damaturu, while the duo of Paul Obor, 38, and Dennis Fuokorighe, 48, who were arrested on Wednesday 24th Jan. at a Navy checkpoint, Itobe, Ofu LGA, Kogi state with 318 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 190.8kg concealed in a gold colour Honda Accord Car marked RBC 449AE, were handed over to the Kogi state command of the Agency on Friday 26th Jan. by men of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Lugard, Lokoja.

“In Kano, a suspect, Shamwilu Idris, 29, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area on Thursday 25th January with 271kg cannabis following the seizure of an abandoned 28.1kg of same substance at Rijiyar Lemo area of the state on Wednesday 24th Jan. Another suspect, Abubakar Haruna Salisu, 24, was nabbed at Kotun Wambai, Yan Awaki, area of Kano on Friday 26th January with 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup while a total of 1, 306 blocks of cannabis weighing 886kg seized by the Police at Kwanar Dangora, area of the state were transferred to the Agency on Wednesday 24th Jan.

“A total of 87 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 73kg as well as 21, 346 pills of tramadol and 3,800 tablets of diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Musa Galadima on Friday 26th January when his DAF truck marked GME 971 XD was intercepted at Lafiyawo, along Gombe – Bauchi road by NDLEA operatives. In Plateau state, Aminu Ubanta, 35, was nabbed on Saturday 27th January with 5.355kg cannabi at Layin Zana area of Jos.

“With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Day Primary and Secondary School, Jiddel Michika, Adamawa state; students of Soltab Comprehensive College, Abeokuta, Ogun state; pupils and teachers of Sangotedo Primary School, Ajah, Lagos state; pupils and teachers of ADS Basic Primary School 1&2, Ogbomoso, Oyo state; students and teachers of Farfanu Malami community secondary school, Magama Jibia, Katsina state; and WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Highness, Dr. Gibson  Nwabueze Nwosu, Eze Uzu 11 of Awka, Anambra state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Seme, Kano, Gombe, Kogi, Plateau, and Jigawa Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week.

“Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating a balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has charged men and officers of the agency to shun any enticement that conflicts with the ethos of their profession as anti-narcotic operatives.

According to a statement by the EFCC Director, Media and Advocacy,

Femi Babafemi,  Marwa gave the charge on yesterday in Jos Plateau State during the graduation ceremony of members of the Strike Force elite corps in the agency. “Here is my appeal to each of you: Shun any enticement that conflicts with the ethos of your profession as an anti-narcotic operative. Anything that would compromise your discipline and dedication to duty should be avoided. As an anti-narcotic officer, you bear a huge obligation to remain incorruptible in the face of any temptation that might be sprung on you by drug traffickers and barons”, the NDLEA boss who was represented by the Director, Special Duties/Commander, Strike Force, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN Ahmed Ningi told the officers.

According to him, “To the Strike Force operatives, I want you to be mindful that today is a milestone in your professional career in the agency. This specialised training and the skills acquired therefrom will undoubtedly enhance your competence in the special role you will be playing for the Agency in the war against illicit drugs.

“It is important that I remind you that as the agency scales its operation against illicit drug trafficking, your service will become increasingly essential to the successful attainment of our organisational goals. The special nature of your training requires that you serve as a force multiplier for the conventional NDLEA staff in the field.

“Moreover, the progress report I received, including the on-the-spot assessment, confirmed that the objective of the course has been achieved. Therefore, as you graduate today, I urge you not to rest on your oars, as your competence will be tested from time to time by challenges that will recur in your career as an anti-narcotic operative. It is gratifying to note that you have been exposed to classroom and outdoor exercises in line with the current challenges.”

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 You are, therefore, urged to consolidate the knowledge gained and apply it judiciously in your various commands. Generally, I am hopeful that the benefits of the course will reflect positively on your performance in the field.”

Explaining the significance of the elite force within the agency, Marwa said “We have great expectations of the Strike Force, one of NDLEA’s tactical creations in 2021. The Strike Force adds strength and purpose to our drug supply reduction effort by reinforcing officers and men of NDLEA who have to work in dangerous terrain while carrying out their duties.

“The merit of having the Strike Force was evident in February 2023 when, on two occasions, the Agency was able to successfully carry out raids, seizures, and destruction of a significant amount of psychotropic substances in territories that in the past were hostile and almost out of bounds for anti-narcotic officers.

“In Ondo and Ekiti States, for instance, 255 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed across five local government areas in a seven-day operation. Similarly, in Lagos State, a notorious drug den in Patey, Lagos Island, was successfully raided in broad daylight, with over 5,000kg of cannabis and other assorted drugs seized, along with the arrest of the drug kingpin and six other suspects. Both operations were dangerous, but the Strike Force provided the needed cover, repelled mob attacks, and ensured our officers and men performed their duties safely.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Akwa Ibom Command says it secured 68 convictions and rehabilitated 12 cases in 2023.

State Commander of NDLEA, Mrs Obot Bassey, disclosed this during a press conference in the Command’s headquarters in Uyo on Tuesday, January 23.

She said that the Command during the period arrested 195 suspects, comprising 159 males and 36 females, and seized drugs weighing 1, 267. 24kg worth millions of naira.

The commander added that the command during the period under review counseled about 278 cases comprising 263 males and 15 females.

“For the year 2023 just ended, The Akwa Ibom Command recorded the following achievements; arrested 195 suspects comprising 159 males and 36 females and recorded drug seizures totalling 1, 267. 244kg.

“During the period under review, we secured 68 convictions and all of them are serving jail terms in our custodial centres.

“Compared with the statistics of 2022, it is obvious that the Command had a better achievement in 2023.

“With the seizure of 460.344kg of drugs in 2022 and 1, 267.244kg in 2023, there is a 175 per cent increase in the seizures recorded.

“The drug war is not an easy one as drug traffickers change their modus operandi daily to evade arrest, in the same vein, officers are on high alert and their toes giving them close and marked pursuit.

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“The implication of the prevalence of these hard drugs in Akwa Ibom state is the spike in criminal activities such as frequent cult clashes, youth unrest, daring armed robbery cases, kidnapping, militancy, and the like,” Bassey said.

Bassey said that Akwa Ibom is identified as mostly a consumer/transit state with drug dealers striving to litter the streets with illicit drugs.

The commander said the NDLEA would continue to collaborate with sister agencies in the state to fight the drug menace to the barest minimum.

“The success recorded by the Command in 2023 was made possible by the Grace of God and the brave efforts of the officers and men of the Command.

“The State Command is still faced with challenges ranging from the need for operational vehicles to effectively and efficiently cover the 31 Local Government Areas of the State.

“The Command is also in need of Barracks for the safety of our officers,” she said.

The commander said that in 2024, the command would be aggressive in fighting drug menace to dismantle drug cartels in the state.

She added that the command would step up sensitization campaigns and advocacy on the consequences of illicit drug trafficking and abuse.

Bassey assured Akwa Ibom people of the Command’s readiness to arrest offenders, prosecute, and convict them to serve as deterrents to others.

She commended the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Gov. Umo Eno, and other security agencies for their support to the command and solicited more support in the years ahead to ensure that illicit drugs are eliminated from society.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted arms and ammunition as well as large consignments of Cocaine and Colorado, a strong strain of cannabis, concealed in containerized household items and vehicles imported from Durban, South Africa and Canada at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.

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

He said following coordinated intelligence and months of tracking of the containers by three special units of NDLEA, the illicit drugs along with arms, ammunition and sundry military effects were seized during joint examination of the three containers by the Agency’s officers and their counterparts from Customs Service and other security agencies between Thursday 18th and Friday 19th January 2024. 

Babafemi said some of the Agency’s sniffer dogs were also deployed to help identify locations and bags used in concealing the illicit items.

“Some of the items recovered from the containers include: 1, 274 parcels of Cocaine and Colorado with a total weight of 884.09 kilograms; four pistols; 197 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 275 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and sundry military personnel effects as well as some chemicals in kegs. 

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“With the exception of 32.5kg shipment of Colorado that came in used vehicles from Canada, the rest of the items were found in two of three containers that arrived the Tincan port from Durban, South Africa onboard a vessel marked MSC RESILIENT III and discharged on new year eve, 31st December 2023.  A suspect linked to one of the containers, UACU 5348336, bearing the 32.5kg Colorado, 41-year-old Akara Chibugo has already been tracked and arrested by NDLEA operatives.

“Two vigilant freight agents and a traveler escaped being roped into two drug trafficking operations by desperate traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos. The two agents were contacted to send a consignment of 1kg cannabis concealed in tins of Milo beverage to Turkey but chose to submit the shipment to NDLEA checks before processing the cargo. The psychoactive substance was later discovered to be hidden inside the shipment,” he said.

Babafemi also said NDLEA operatives on Friday 19th January arrested one Okosun Paul Punitt, for a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which a staff of Pathfinder International Ltd, Ajuzieogu Mac-Elvis Ugochukwu attempted sending through an intending passenger on Ibom Air to Accra, Ghana at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 16th January. 

A video of the face-off between the passenger and Ajuzieogu later went viral after the vigilant passenger suspected the consignment contained illicit substances. 

Babafemi said both Ajuzieogu and the exhibit were later transferred to NDLEA on Thursday 18th January by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN for investigation. 

He said preliminary findings by NDLEA showed the parcel contained 50 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements. 

He said a follow up operation by the Agency led to the arrest of Okosun upon his return from Ghana on Friday. 

Babafemi said Okosun in his statement confirmed ownership of the drug.

The statement reads: “In Kano, no fewer than five million six hundred and fifty three thousand (5, 653,000) pills of tramadol 250mg and exol-5 were seized from three suspects. While Nura Abdullahi, 38, and Tahir Muhammad Mukhtar, 42, were arrested at Bacharawa area of Kano with 5, 404,000 pills of tramadol 250mg on Sunday 14th January, Yusuf Umar, 50, was nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa area of the state the previous day Saturday 13th January with 249,000 tablets of exol-5 by NDLEA operatives.

“In Lagos, two suspects: Ali Abubakar and Murtala Sani were arrested at Ojodu Berger area on Tuesday 16th January with 110kg of cannabis sativa while 69kg of same substance was recovered from the hideout of a fleeing suspect in Akerele, Surulere same day. Not less than 2, 800 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup were recovered by NDLEA officers on Saturday 20th January during a raid operation at Aleita FCT, Abuja. The suspected owner of the consignment, Jideofor Sochima is still at large.

“While a total of 100, 510 pills of opioids were seized from a suspect, Ike Emmanuel, 35, on Thursday 18th January at Dan-Anacha village, Taraba state, NDLEA operatives in Abia state arrested 60-year-old Joseph Isiguzoro, as well as Emmanuel Eugene and Malachi Ndu in parts of Abia state with 34,200 pills of opioids. Isiguzoro was equally found with monetary exhibit totalling Two Million Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand and Forty Five Naira (N2,885,045) only.

“The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the Agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture at Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom; Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger state and WADA advocacy lecture at Community Secondary School, Bichi, Kano state, among others.

“While commending the officers and men of Tincan, MMIA, Abia, Taraba, Lagos, Kano and FCT Commands as well as the special units of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to remain focused and resolute in pursuit of the corporate goal of winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. 

He further charged them to maintain the flame of collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.”

Delta governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed concerns over rising case of illicit drug use among youths in the state.

He said his administration aims to curb the menace in the state through campaigns and rehabilitation strategies, including the  reintegration into society via wealth and job creation programmes under the administration’s MORE agenda.

Oborevwori who spoke in a Delta Broadcasting Service live radio programme, said he is committed to the wellbeing of citizens, adding that he would do whatever it takes to eliminate or drastically reduce the use of illegal drugs in the state.

Speaking through an aide, Dr Wilfred Oghenesivbe, disclosed that the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has officially indicated interest to partner with the State Orientation Bureau.

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He added that the synergy shall, to a large extent, reduce the menace, if not completely eradicate it from the state.

Oghenesivbe assured that the Bureau’s campaign shall cut across the three senatorial districts; Delta Central, Delta North and Delta South, and that the anti-drug agency’s personnel would expose the dangers of use of illicit drugs and the legal implications.

He said the state government under the social security and citizens welfare programmes will  rehabilitate drug addicts and enrol them into the wealth and job creation programmes, as they willingly or voluntarily submit themselves for government assistance during and after the Bureau’s joint sensitization exercise with NDLEA.

He said: “I can tell you for free that the state government and the governor, Rt Hon Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, takes the issue of substance abuse and use of illegal drugs very seriously.

“Campaign against drug abuse and use of illegal drugs shall be given prime attention. And am happy to inform you and Deltans that the Delta State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, has officially indicated interest to partner with Delta State Orientation Bureau, in the area of sensitization to reduce or eradicate the unfortunate menace.

“We are targeting Colleges and Institutions of higher learning in the state. We shall be on ground at various campuses with NDLEA officials to articulate the dangers of illicit drugs and substance abuse, as well as the criminal elements and prosecution associated with the crime. It is obviously a crime to use illegal drugs. The laws are there and very potent.

“Government cherishes the life of every Deltans, and very much interested to see the consistent progress of our youth across the three senatorial districts. It’s a good and wise investment to talk our youth out of drug abuse and use of illegal drugs.

“More importantly, the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, neither smoke nor drink alcohol. In that respect, he would do anything lawful and reasonable to help drive the campaign to a logical conclusion.

“That’s what Advancing Delta is all about. It’s about saving lives, about the prosperity and wellbeing of Deltans. It’s about good governance in all ramifications”.

• U.S Govt, UNODC promise more collaborations

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), has said the upgrade of the agency’s forensic laboratory by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) will enhance operational standard and optimal performance in the renewed fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said Marwa spoke at the inauguration of the agency’s newly refurbished forensic laboratory yesterday in Lagos.

He said: “With this facility, we are now anticipating the provision of state-of-the-art analytical equipment, which will enhance optimal performance in line with standard operational laboratory procedures and best practices, which in turn will enhance evidence-based analytical processes in our forensic analysis.”

The project was facilitated by INL and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

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Marwa, who was represented by Babafemi, emphasised the importance of modern forensic laboratories to the successful fight against illicit drugs in the country.

He said: “Everyone who knows how pivotal a forensic laboratory is to drug investigations will share my sentiment. The forensic laboratory plays a critical role in the identification of drug exhibits, in the investigation of illicit drug manufacturing and the dismantling of clandestine laboratories. Ultimately, it reinforces the criminal justice system.

“Given the current situation of illicit drugs in Nigeria, a forensic laboratory is sine qua non for any meaningful effort to stymie the problem. “The reason is obvious. In three decades, Nigeria has grown from a transit country to a country that produces a farrago of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and a place where there is proliferation of clandestine laboratories, of which we have discovered and dismantled over 23.

“Over the last three years that I have been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, there have been seizures of record quantities of illicit drugs, approximately 7,590 tonnes. What is remarkable about these seizures is that they include not only substances already under national and international control but also an unexpectedly high number of new psychoactive substances and combinations of illicit drugs prepared by chemists working in clandestine laboratories.”

“These substances, constituting over 10,000 exhibits, found their way to the forensic laboratory for confirmatory analysis and identification.

“The poor infrastructure of our forensic laboratory translated into inadequacy to cope with the volume of work on ground. It is against this backdrop that INL intervened to sponsor the upgrading of the laboratory to a global standard and expand its capacity to cope with the challenging dynamics inherent in the analysis of new psychoactive substances, amphetamine-type stimulants, synthetic cannabinoids, and fentanyl opioids.”

Marwa expressed appreciation to the U.S. Government for approving the funding for the project, which encompasses the strengthening of the forensic and chemical analysis capacity of NDLEA; upgrading the interrogation room; and provision of an e-library for prosecution.

The NDLEA boss praised the UNODC for painstaking implementation of the project.

The UNODC Deputy Country Representative, Danilo Campisi, lauded the partnership with the United States INL and NDLEA, saying it “continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of these types of interventions, implemented by organisations like UNODC”.