Tag: NDLEA

Seven years after his escape from prison custody following his conviction for drug dealing, a notorious major distributor of illicit substances within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Ibrahim Momoh, popularly known as Ibrahim Bendel, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Spokesperson of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, who revealed this in a statement on Sunday, November 19, said Momoh was arrested during a raid of his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of the FCT.

Babafemi said Momoh was first arrested on 27th November, 2014 with cannabis sativa weighing 385.1kgs, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on 22nd July 2015 but while serving his jail term at Kuje, he escaped from prison custody on 16th May, 2016.

According to the statement, following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on 20th November 2022 stormed the warehouse of the fleeing ex-convict, Momoh, and recovered 81 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,278kgs.

Babafemi said the store was located within the suspect’s poultry farm in Dei-Dei area of the FCT.

He said though Momoh was not around at the time, his warehouse manager, 55-year-old Ghanaian, Richard Forson Gordon was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail.

According to the statement, the Agency thereafter declared Momoh wanted.

The Agency’s Spokesman said the manhunt for the drug lord paid off on 5th November 2023 when operatives again raided his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of Abuja where he was arrested with 56.9kgs of cannabis sativa and 42.7 grams of Diazepam.

He said in another raid in the same area of the FCT on Monday 13th November, a suspect Yusufa Ibrahim, 27, was arrested with 75.3kgs of cannabis.

He also said a massive operation in the forest of Efon Alaye in Efon local government area of Ekiti state on Saturday 18th November 2023 has led to the destruction of 52,500 kilograms of cannabis sativa covering over 21 hectares of farmland while a total of ninety two bags of same substance weighing 1,380 kilograms were recovered and another 250 bags weighing 3,000kgs stored in different huts on the farm were also burnt.

He said: “No fewer than 15 suspects were arrested on the farm during the operation. They include: Okikiri Julius, 27; Ozoemene Friday Efajemu, 31; Tosin Ibrahim, 18; Israel Samuel, 25; Godwin David, 39; Friday Isaac, 19; Ayomide Igbekele, 18; Joshua Daniel, 27; Emmanuel Nwachukwu, 19; Emeka Onyeama, 31; Ani Augustine, 27; Obasi Ogbu, 32; Orsusue Peter, 23; Daniel Emmanuel, 18; and Yinusa James, 22.

Read Also: Why I don’t want war in Akwa Ibom, by Akpabio

“In Ondo state, five persons including another wanted drug kingpin, Christopher Onyebuchi, 40, were arrested at New Bridge Compound, Idoani on Wednesday 15th November and a total of 1,945 kilograms of cannabis recovered from them. Others include: Olorunda Ojo, 52; Femi Tomoye, 22; Abdurahman Salahu, 29; and Momoh Jimoh, 31. Onyebuchi had earlier been arrested by NDLEA on 25th March 2022 with 89kgs of same substance but jumped bail after he was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Akure. Operatives in the state also on Sunday 12th Nov raided Upemen village in Owo where they recovered 1,834kgs of same substance with 273kgs also seized the previous day, Saturday 11th Nov at Ipesi Akoko.

“While NDLEA officers in Sokoto recovered 290kgs of cannabis from a female suspect, Fatima Salmanu, 20, at Gangaren Tashar, Illela Sokoto in Sokoto North LGA on Thursday 16th Nov, their colleagues in Edo state evacuated 808kgs of the same psychoactive substance stored in a forest at Igueben on Monday 13th Nov.

“Not less than 231kgs of cannabis were recovered and five suspects arrested in a joint raid between NDLEA operatives and soldiers in Kwande council area of Benue state on Monday 13th Nov. Those arrested include: Denen Terhemba, 25; Liambee Iorhuna, 36; Iorhuna Sughnen, 20; Aboh Sonter, 23; and Msendoo Tyokaa, 36.

“While operatives in Ogun state on Tuesday 14th Nov arrested a suspect, Tony Jonah at Abule Iroko, with cannabis sativa weighing 67kgs, those in Lagos arrested Chike Agu at Ago Palace way, Isolo with 364.3kgs of Loud, a variant of cannabis.

In Imo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri -Onitsha expressway on Monday 13th Nov intercepted a truck marked XS 669KRD driven by one Orji Ifeanyi, 33. A search of the truck led to the seizure of 82,320 pills of opioids including Tramadol 225mg, and Diazepam as well as 32.5 litres of codeine cough syrup and 100 pieces of Molly weighing 49.62 grams.

“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 advocacy lecture for Muslim faithful at Badagry Central Mosque, Badagry, Lagos; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Science College, Wase, Plateau state; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Ogidi, Anambra state; WADA advocacy lecture at St. Thomas Grammar School, Otan Aiyegbaju, Osun; WADA advocacy lecture for students and staff of Government Junior Arabic Secondary School, Maigatari, Jigawa state as well as students and staff of Mainland Technical College, Oron, Akwa Ibom state.

“While commending the officers and men of the FCT, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Ogun and Imo Commands 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 intensify the offensive action tempo against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches while maintaining a balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 45-year-old notorious drug dealer, Godwin Emuneyin, who is physically challenged and uses his wheelchair as cover to deal in illicit substances such as methamphetamine and cannabis in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East local government area of Edo state.

The director of media and advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, November 12, said the suspect was arrested by operatives on Tuesday, November 7, at his base in Afuze following credible intelligence.

Babafemi said that at the time of his arrest, a wooden box used to conceal illicit substances including 18 pinches of methamphetamine, one block, and 71 wraps of cannabis, was recovered from him.

According to the statement, in other interdiction operations in Edo state, NDLEA operatives on Monday 6th November recovered 42 bags of cannabis weighing 480kgs from a camp in Aviosi forest in Owan West LGA.

Babafemi said the Utese forest in Ovia North East LGA was also raided the same day with 231.5kgs of the substance recovered and a cannabis farm measuring 0.778960 hectares destroyed.

It read: “In Adamawa state, operatives on patrol along Ngurore-Yola road on Thursday 9th November intercepted a Toyota Corolla car marked TZG 97 KY loaded with 30, 899 Tramadol 225mg and 100mg pills concealed inside the body compartments of the car. The driver found in possession of the drug exhibits, Sani Samaila (a.k.a Isa Male) 25 said he was bringing the consignment from Jalingo, Taraba State to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.

Read Also: Bayelsa guber: APC frowns at moving collation of Brass LGA results to Yenagoa

“The previous day, Wednesday 8th November, a suspect, Abdullahi Sani (a.k.a Danfulani) was arrested at Ngurore town in possession of some quantity of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa in a white nylon. He thereafter led operatives on a follow-up operation to the home of a drug lord, Alhaji Bubakari (a.k.a Dan Mamuda), an unrepentant ex-convict, where 19 blocks of compressed cannabis that weighed 13kgs were recovered.

“In Ogun state, not less than 18.875 tons of cannabis sativa on 7.55 hectares farmland were destroyed and another 100 jumbo bags weighing 1,100 kilograms of the psychoactive substance recovered at James town, Ogunmakin area of Obafemi Owode LGA on Monday 6th November, by a combined team of NDLEA operatives with officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Defence Intelligence Agency and the State Security Network, Amotekun. Okpor Chukwuma and six other male suspects found on the farmland were arrested.

“While a commercial bus driver, Olayinka Sowo, 25, was arrested on Friday 10th November along Ibadan – Akure expressway over an alleged conspiracy to transport 45.150kgs cannabis from Lagos to Osun state, NDLEA officers in Abuja on same day intercepted 7, 980 pills of diazepam and 567 bottles of codeine syrup in a commercial bus along Abaji-Abuja highway after which a follow-up operation at Zuba motor park led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Ugwu Ikenna, 30.

“In Delta state, NDLEA operatives backed by men of the Nigerian Army stormed a remote forest in Umuchime community, Ndokwa West LGA where they destroyed 12.5 tons of cannabis on five hectares of farmland, and recovered 53.22kgs processed weeds and seeds of the substance.

“A suspect, Christopher Anim (alias Ogidi) was also arrested in the course of the operation. Two suspects: Amarachukwu Eugene, 32, and Abdulaziz Auwal, 25, were arrested in another operation by operatives in Kano with 202 blocks of cannabis weighing 113.1kgs on Tuesday 7th November.”

Babafemi said in the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures.

These, he said, included a sensitisation lecture for students of Government Commercial Secondary School, Wudil, Kano state; WADA advocacy visit to Zamfara state governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal in Gusau; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of George Burton Memorial School, Ilesa, Osun state, and similar lecture delivered at Kenneth Dike Secondary School, Awka, Anambra state, among others.

“While commending the officers and men of the Edo, Ogun, Osun, Adamawa, Delta, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.”

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Area Command on Friday, November 10, handed over fourteen million, one hundred and thirty-eight thousand, four hundred and sixty naira (14,138, 460.00) worth of cannabis sativa intercepted from suspected smugglers to the State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The sixty-four sacks and one hundred and fifty compressed Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) according to the Comptroller, Oyo/Osun NCS, Ben Oramalugo, were seized from various axes within the command’s area of responsibility.

Speaking in Ibadan while handing over the substance to Oyo NDLEA, Oramalugo said the illegal substance weighed a total of 777.5kg.

He said the seizure was made possible through the timely sharing of credible intelligence and effective collaboration/synergy between all Units of NCS residents between Oyo and Osun States. (Federal Operations Unit, Border Dril).

He lamented that the menace of drug he society is becoming alarming which called for urgent action before it get out of hand, saying the future of the nation is at stake if something is not done.

He said aside seizure of the cannabis sativa, the Command also seized 1,248 (50kg) bags of rice, 425 (25litres) kegs of petrol, 24 bales of used clothing and one used bag, 492 pieces of used tyres, and one Dane gun.

Read Also: I apologise for assault on Ajaero – Uzodimma

He noted that several laudable achievements have been recorded since his assumption of office in the last seven months including a fight against smugglers and revenue generation.

He however thanked the Comptroller General of Customs for the provision of seven operational vehicles to the Command towards the realization of the Command mandate in the area of smuggling.

“It is important to note that the Command recognizes the importance of collaboration and inter-agency cooperation of which it fosters strong partnerships with relevant Federal Government Agencies, Trade Associations and the General Publics.”

“We would also like to mention that the collaborative efforts of the Sister Agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Security, NDLEA, and Oyo State Operation Burst are all appreciated.”

“We would also like to appreciate and acknowledge the cooperation of various Traditional rulers and Community leaders who have continued to enlighten their respective Communities of the ills of Smuggling.”

“We also thank the government of Oyo and Osun States for providing an enabling environment for the Command’s Officers and Men to perform their statutory functions, while assuring our compliant stakeholders with legitimate businesses within the Command’s Area of Responsibility of our maximum cooperation.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo NDLEA Deputy Commander, Operations and Training, Lukas Yerima, while receiving the cannabis on behalf of the NDLEA Commander in the state lauded the effort of the Customs, saying Nigerian youths would have a future if the movement of drugs can be curtailed across the nation.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized over 14, 481, 519 pills of Tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup worth over N13 billion in street value in three major busts of drug cartels operating in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota and the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

The Director of Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, November 5.

Babafemi said the three intelligence-led operations began with the raid of House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue, Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin on Sunday 29th October, where 490,000 pills of tramadol and 81,519 bottles of codeine syrup measuring 4, 510, 000mls were recovered.

He added that in a similar operation on Tuesday 31st October, NDLEA operatives swooped on a secret warehouse operated by a billionaire Idumota trader, Nwaoha Anayo located at Onitire, Aguda area of Surulere where 12, 700, 000 pills of tramadol were recovered.

Babafemi said in the same vein, at least six members of a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport into the country have been arrested and 1, 210, 000 pills of tramadol seized from them in a painstaking operation that lasted for weeks.

Read Also: Family drags NDLEA to Court over illegal possession of property

He said the six suspects already in NDLEA custody include: Oladele Sanya-Olu; Lawal Itunu Temitope; Sanamo Alla Daniel; Udeh Felix Monday; Musa Mutalib and Unege Evans Icibor, while three other suspects: Sarki Mubarak Salami; Abdullahi Aliyu (aka Aboki); and Monday Anwal, are now on the run and wanted by NDLEA.

According to the statement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 29th October intercepted yet another businessman, 50-year-old Nwokolo Ifeanyi Anthony during the outward clearance of Air France flight AF 878 to Amsterdam, Netherlands via Paris, France at the boarding gate and was body scanned. The result turned out to be positive for illicit drug ingestion.

Babafemi said the suspect who travelled from Lagos to board the flight was subsequently kept under observation for some days during which he excreted a total of 86 pellets of heroin weighing 1.330 kilograms.

The statement reads “Similarly, NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms on Monday 30th October intercepted 22 parcels of cocaine concealed in the walls of a carton containing sewn local fabrics popularly called Aso Oke, heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have arrested three blind men operating an illicit drug ring between Lagos and Kano, while another blind member of the syndicate is still at large. The lid was blown off the group following the arrest of a blind suspect, Adamu Hassan, 40, along Gwagwalada expressway Abuja with 12kgs of skunk on his way from Lagos to Kano on Saturday 28th October. Investigations however established that he was totally oblivious of the content of the bag handed to him to deliver in Kano.

“Follow up operations then led to the arrest of the arrowhead of the syndicate, Bello Abubakar, 45, who is also blind. In his statement, Bello who is married with five children said he has been living in Lagos for 30 years but started the illicit drug business five years ago.

“Another suspect, Muktar Abubakar, 59, who is equally blind has been living in Lagos for 40 years and married to three wives with 14 children. Both Muktar Abubakar and Bello Abubakar are joint owners of the business, while the third suspect, Akilu Amadu, 25, also blind equally contributes money to the criminal trade and was indeed the one who delivered the consignment to Adamu at the motor park in Lagos to deliver in Kano. Another blind suspect who is the expected receiver of the consignment in Kano, Mallam Aminu is currently at large.

“While operatives in Osun on Saturday 4th November stormed the Obada sawmill forest in Owena-Ijesa, Oriade LGA where they arrested a suspect, Monday Sylvester, 37, on a 6.01 hectares of cannabis farm which was destroyed and 489.8kgs already processed plant recovered, their colleagues in Edo raided a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi forest, Owan West LGA where 603 kilograms of the illicit substance were seized.

“Also, NDLEA officers in Ogun state on Friday 3rd November recovered a Toyota Sienna bus from a ditch, at Ajebo Area, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 460kgs of the same substance, while a total of 116.5kgs of cannabis sativa belonging to a suspect at large were seized at Olagunju, Mushin area of Lagos.

“While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, Lagos, Osun, Edo and FCT Commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain focused as the Agency expands its operations against drug cartels.”

The family of the Asiwaju of  Ado-Ekiti, late Prof. Afolabi Ojo has  dragged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to the Ado- Ekiti State High Court over alleged illegal possession of their property.

In a suit marked HAD/154/2022 filed by Hon. Kunle Ojo on behalf of the family, the claimants are asking the court to help recover possession of the five-bedroom bungalow situated at GRA, Ado-Ekiti.

In an affidavit deposed to by B.J Fayemi ESQ of Fayemi Bolarinwa Joshua and co chamber, the claimant averred that the defendant rented the property from his late father, Prof. Afolabi Ojo before his demise but refuse to pay the rent of the property as and when due.

Read Also: NDLEA and the seizure of fake dollars

The Claimant “averred the defendants have refused to pay the rent of the property as and when due which make the arrears of the rent remained in the sum N4,462,500 from 1st April, 2016 to 31st March, 2022.

“The Claimants averred the defendants paid N600,000 out of N5,062,500 from 1st of July, 2015 to 31st March, 2022 leaving the balance of N4,462,500 unpaid from 1st of April, 2016 to 31st of March, 2022.