The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDLEA

  • Man jailed two years for drug trafficking

    Man jailed two years for drug trafficking

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a 35-year-old unemployed man, Muyideen Muili, to two years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

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

    He appeared before Justice Hadiza Rabiu-Shagari and pleaded guilty to the charge.

    After Muili’s plea, the prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Aernan, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

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

    The court admitted the shreds of evidence as exhibit.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Rabiu-Shagari said she found the accused guilty as charged and convicted him.

    “The convict is hereby sentenced to a term of two years imprisonment, beginning from the date of his arrest,” the judge said.

    Earlier, the prosecutor had told the court that Muili committed the offence on August 16, 2017.

    Aernan said the convict was arrested at Asipa Street, in Ojodu Berger area of Lagos, with about 300kgs of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp.

    He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under same.

    Before his sentence, the convict begged the court to tamper justice with mercy and give him another chance to become a better person.

    NAN

  • NDLEA nabs two drug traffickers with N50m worth narcotics

    NDLEA nabs two drug traffickers with N50m worth narcotics

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kano, at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) command yesterday paraded two suspected drug traffickers in possession of hard drugs valued at over N50 million.

    Speaking to reporters on the arrest, the MAKIA NDLEA Commander, Mr. Ambrose Umoru, said that the suspected drug traffickers were apprehended on February 17 by anti narcotic agents attached to the airport.

    He explained that the suspects were apprehended during routine inward screening of passengers onboard Ethiopian Airlines flight number ET 941.

    According to him, one of the suspects, Nweke Emmanuel, (49) who hails from Ire in Idenmili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was in possession of 2.180kg of ingested heroine detected during the screening exercise. .

    Umoru said:  “The suspect is a businessman and barber who is based in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of Congo, traveled to Bujumbura, Burundi where he ingested a total of 127 wraps of heroine.”

    The second suspect, Miss Olunwabusola Dumebi (32), from Ibusa in Oshimili Local Government Area of Delta State, a stylist by profession, was billed to board same flight with the first suspect.

    He noted three kg of a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine was also discovered in her possession.

     

  • NDLEA intercepts 404.9kg marijuana in Abuja, nabs seven suspects

    NDLEA intercepts 404.9kg marijuana in Abuja, nabs seven suspects

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has intercepted 404.9 kg of cannabis sativa, popularly known as marijuana, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Spokesman of the FCT Command of the NDLEA, Mr. Peter Adegbe, disclosed this in Abuja on Friday.

    He said seven suspects were arrested in connection with the substance which was seized between February 11 and 15.

    He said 127.9 kg of cannabis was intercepted in Abuja, while 173kg and another 104kg was seized in two separate incidents at Abaji on its way to the nation’s capital.

    The NDLEA spokesman said the suspects had been charged to court, adding that the agency is determined to make the FCT a no-go area for drug peddlers.

    “These merchants of death are advised to give up the business or continue to experience losses and a date in jail,” he said.

    NAN

     

     

  • NDLEA destroys drugs worth N10b in Edo

    NDLEA destroys drugs worth N10b in Edo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) Edo Command on Friday destroyed illicit drugs valued at more than N10 billion in Benin.

    Retired Col. Mohammad Abdallah, the Chairman of NDLEA who supervised the exercise, said that the quantum of drugs being destroyed clearly called for state of emergency over drug situation in the country.

    Abdallah said approximately 137,000 kiligrammes of illicit drugs were destroyed, noting that
    the figure was double the total figure recently destroyed in FCT, Oyo and Kano states.

    The chairman said 20 tonnes of drugs were destroyed in FCT, 14 tonnes in Oyo and 50 tonnes
    in Kano, while a whopping 136 tonnes destroyed in Edo.

    He added that the quantity showed that drugs had become unacceptably pervasive in many parts of the country, with attendant implications on health, security and integrity of the nation.

    He stressed that the connection between drugs and violent crimes was beyond any controversy, adding that this was because cannabis, tramadol and other psychoactive substances were often recovered in virtually all terrorist camps by the military.

    Abdallah expressed concern over the increase in space of forest being used for the cultivation of cannabis sativa in the state.

    Read Also: NDLEA to tackle use of prohibited substances by youths in FCT

    He explained that in 2017, the state command destroyed 40.06 hectares of suspected cannabis plantations, while 37.9 hectares was destroyed in 2016.

    He noted that the diversion of land to cannabis cultivation instead of food and economic crops remained a serious threat to food production in the country.

    The state Commander of NDLEA, Mr Buba Wakawa, said it was sad that Edo was one of the highest cannabis producing states in the country.

    Wakawa said that the problems of drugs and substance abuse in the state were of serious concern to the command.

    He added that school age children were found to be using drugs even at an early age of 13, saying
    this had affected the rate of school dropout, divorce, rape, as well as teenage pregnancy.

    The commander said the event marked the last stage of drug enforcement circle which started with intelligence gathering, raid operations, investigation, successful conviction and finally execution of the court order for the destruction of confiscated drugs.

    The quantity of drugs destroyed was the largest in the history of drug control in the country, he stressed.

    Wakawa said cannabis sativa accounted for 136, 437.73 kilogrammes of the figure, while cocaine, heroin and other psychotropic substances accounted for 0.0139 kilo grammes, 0.0084 kilogrammes and 406.7 kilogrammes.

    NAN

  • NDLEA arrests drug suspects

    Officials of Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three drug suspects on the premises of a primary school in Aba.

    The Commander, Dele Akingbade, said officials seized drugs weighing 800 grammes and a locally-made double barrel.

    Akingbade named the suspects as Charles Kelechi, 29, Osuji Uchechukwu, 22 and Obioha Lord Jenkins, 26.

    He said the arrests proved that “our men are determined to crack down on the activities of drug peddlers.”

    The NDLEA boss said that the suspects were being detained and questioned at their office in Aba.

  • Drug Abuse: Senate unveils framework to tackle menace in Nigeria

    Drug Abuse: Senate unveils framework to tackle menace in Nigeria

    The Senate has unveiled a comprehensive framework aimed at providing effective leadership and administration of mental health and substance abuse cases in the country.
    This is a fall-out of the upper chamber’s roundtable on drug abuse held in Kano in January.
    A statement by the Media Office of President of the Senate on Thursday in Abuja said that the framework included formulating, developing and implementing national policies, strategies and programmes on the issues.
    The statement said that the plans also entailed formulation of regulations to arrest the rising incidents of mental health and substance abuse.
    It said that the intervention comprised complex legislative framework for operations of law enforcement and other agencies toward reduction in the supply of illicit substances of abuse.

    Read Also: Heat wave forces Senate to adjourn

    It added that sections of various legislations and policies that dealt with drug control were being pulled together and harmonised into one Drug Control Bill.

    It said, “this is with clear mandates for the various law enforcement and regulatory agencies like NDLEA, NAFDAC, Nigerian Police Force, to develop framework for inter-agency cooperation towards drug control.
    “It will also ensure that prevention mechanisms, timely, affordable, high quality and culturally-appropriate mental healthcare are made available to the public.
    “Besides, the Senate will also develop a coherent legislative and policy context to address the control of drugs (Psychoactive Drugs) and interventions for people that use drugs.
    “We will also address the lack of clarity and processes of agency roles and responsibilities and processes of inter-agency cooperation on multiple areas of overlap, towards the common objective of safeguarding health and wellbeing of the public.”

    NAN

  • NDLEA seize tons of illicit drugs, nab 324 suspects

    NDLEA seize tons of illicit drugs, nab 324 suspects

    The Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) said that the agency seized about a ton of illicit drugs in the state. This is even as it said that it arrested 324 drug addicts within the state.

    The State Commander of NDLEA, Akingbade Bamidele is a chat with journalists in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state while reviewing the activities of the command in 2017 said that out of the 324 suspects, 304 were males while 20 were females.

    According to him, 24 persons underwent rehabilitation in their facility, while they secured 53 convictions, adding that other cases are still ongoing in various High Courts in the state.

    He further disclosed that the agency counseled and released 78 drug suspects arrested at various drug joints in the state and later handed over to their family members.

    The NDLEA boss who said that the agency was working to secure court order to set ablaze about 6tons of exhibits in the facility whose cases have been concluded stated that they would not be relenting on their oars in nipping the activities of drug merchants and addicts in various notorious drug spots in the state in the bud.

    Read Also: NDLEA educates youths against drug abuse in FCT

    Akingbade who thanked other sister security agencies especially authorities of the 14Brigade, Ohafia for their support while they raided villages such as Arochukwu, Okonu Ohafia respectively where some drug barons were smashed however, lamented the activities of some youths and village leaders who shield drug dealers in their community from being arrested by its personnel during their raids.

    Expressing worries over the high rate of drug abuse among the youths who he accused of combining depressants and stimulants as substitutes for cocaine before committing all manner of crimes including armed robbery, rape, kidnapping etc said that they were going to establish drug-free clubs in schools to ensure that they educate the youths on the dangers of using hard drugs, adding that they would be establishing their outposts at strategic places to ensure that the war on the sale and consumption of illicit drugs in the state was total.

    The NDLEA boss who said that the agency would continue to engage patent drug dealers in a roundtable discussion on the need to sell drugs to only the people with drug prescription from qualified and approved physicians warned youths against consuming illegal and prohibited drugs.

    He called on the state and federal government to come to their aides, adding that with the provision of adequate logistics, the agency would do more in its fight against illicit drugs.

  • Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan, Kogi Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, has handed over to the NDLEA; two students caught smoking banned substance behind the fence of the ministry.

    The students, aged 15 and 18, were from Bishop Delise College, Lokoa.

    The commissioner also handed over the substance to the drug agency for identification and advice on possible measures to stop children from such bad habits.

    She advised the NDLEA to rehabilitate the two students and others like them, and urged parents to sensitize their children on the need to avoid banned substances.

    Read Also: NDLEA impounds 722.469kg of illicit drugs in Cross River

    She also advised parents to monitor the company kept by their children so as to rid them of bad gangs.

    “Parents should always find time to talk to their children and know the type of people they mingle with because most of these strange attitudes are picked from friends.

    “We must join hands together to care for our children because they are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

    She mandated three senior officials of the ministry to carry out a detailed investigation on the matter and report back to her within the shortest possible time.

     NAN

  • Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan, Kogi Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, has handed over to the NDLEA, two students caught smoking banned substance behind the fence of the ministry.

    The students, aged 15 and 18, were from Bishop Delise College, Lokoa.

    The commissioner also handed over the substance to the drug agency for identification and advice on possible measures to stop children from such bad habits.

    Read also: Kogi ADP inaugurates online agricultural market place

    She advised the NDLEA to rehabilitate the two students and others like them, and urged parents to sensitize their children on the need to avoid banned substances.

    She also advised parents to monitor the company kept by their children so as to rid them of bad gangs.

    “Parents should always find time to talk to their children and know the type of people they mingle with because most of these strange attitudes are picked from friends.

    “We must join hands together to care for our children because they are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

    She mandated three senior officials of the ministry to carry out a detailed investigation on the matter and report back to her within the shortest possible time.

    NAN

  • Federal High court jails Labourer, 23, for trafficking

    Federal High court jails Labourer, 23, for trafficking

    A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday, sentenced a 23-years-old Labourer, Musa Danjuma, to one year imprisonment, for trafficking in 350g of Cannabis Sativa, also known as `Hemp’.
    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Jan. 29, arraigned the convict on a one count charge of trafficking Hemp.
    Danjuma pleaded guilty to the charge.
    The prosecution said that Danjuma was arrested on Sept. 13, 2017, at Ajao Estate in Lagos, with 350kg of the narcotics.
    He said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004
    The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, after Danjuma’s plea of guilt, reviewed the facts of the case before the court and led one prosecution witness in evidence.
    He tendered in evidence, a written statement of the accused, a request for scientific aid form, and a bulk of the exhibit.
    Aernan, thereafter, closed the case for the prosecution, and urged the court to sentence the accused in accordance with section 356 (2) of the ACJA 2015, and based on evidences adduced.

    Read Also: Court remands Ondo monarch, four others for alleged stealing

    At the resumed hearing, Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, found the accused guilty as charged and accordingly, convicted him.
    The convict, who was not represented by a lawyer, pleaded for mercy and asked the court to give him a second chance to make amend.
    Oguntoyinbo sentenced the convict to one year imprisonment and held that the sentence would commence from the date of his arrest.
    “The convict is hereby, sentenced to one year imprisonment, to be calculated from the date of his arrest.
    “The drug exhibits are to be returned to the NDLEA for destruction,” she held.

    NAN