The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDLEA

  • Drug trafficking: NDLEA arrest two men at Lagos airport

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday said its men had arrested two travellers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with cocaine and heroin.

    Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju,spokesperson of the NDLEA, said in a statement in Lagos that one of the suspected drug traffickers hid cocaine in his boxer shorts and his luggage, while the other ingested heroin.

    Ofoyeju said that one of them claimed to be an importer of jewellery,while the other said he was an auto parts dealer.

    The NDLEA spokesperson said that cocaine, weighing 750 grammes, was found with the jewellery importer, while the auto parts dealer ingested 94 wraps of heroin, weighing 1.595kg.

    According to him, this is one of the largest quantities of drugs ingested by a suspect at the Lagos airport in recent times.

    “The suspects, who arrived from Brazil and Uganda with cocaine and heroin respectively are currently being interrogated for illegally importing narcotics into the country,” he said.

    Ofoyeju quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that the agency would continue to foil the plans of drug traffickers to make money illegally.

    “NDLEA is working very hard to intercept drugs at all entry points and also arrest every trafficker.

    “Those that intend to enrich themselves with proceeds of drugs will end up in detention.

    “The arrests validate our resolve to address the problem of drug trafficking in the country, while the suspects will soon be charged to court,” he quoted Abdallah as saying.

  • Cannabis: NDLEA arrests two barons, driver in Edo

    Cannabis: NDLEA arrests two barons, driver in Edo

    The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspected cannabis barons with a remarkable seizure of eighteen thousand, two hundred and ninety-four (18,294kg) which is 18.2 metric tons of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis.

    The estimated street value of the seized drug is over one hundred and eighty-three (183) million naira.

    A Bauchi-based suspected cannabis baron, Mohammed Lawal Bello Mustapha, was apprehended at Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, where he was facilitating the shipment of 7,272kg of cannabis to Bauchi, while 3,072kg of cannabis was traced to the warehouse of another suspected baron, Lucky Akele at Uzebba.

    About 7,950kg of cannabis with a few bags of cement as a disguise inside a  truck was intercepted at Enweh. The shipment was destined for Maiduguri, Borno State. The truck driver is Zegiru Amadu.

    Edo State commander, Wakawa Buba, said that the 18,294kg of cannabis was seized in three operations.

    “Two of the seizures took place at Uzebba, while one was at Enweh, all in the Owan West Local Government Area.  All the cases are under investigation and the suspects will soon be charged to court for unlawful possession and dealing in cannabis. They risk a minimum of 15-year sentence if found guilty,” Wakawa stated.

    The driver, in his statement, said he was given one million, three hundred thousand naira to transport the drug to Maiduguri, Bornu State.

    “I am a driver with a cement company. It was greed that pushed me to carry the cannabis. They paid me N1,300,000 to carry the drug. It was because of poverty, but l would not do it again if released” Zegiru Amadu stated.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), while commending the officers who made the arrests, described the seizure as a panacea for peace and positive step towards eradicating drugs from circulation.

    “The NDLEA will continue to work assiduously by consolidating on the gains recorded in the fight against insurgency. Over 15 tons of cannabis would have been taken to the north east if not for the timely interception.

    “Several crimes are perpetrated under the influence of drugs like cannabis and the agency will not rest until the problems of cannabis cultivation, trafficking and use are drastically reduced,” Abdallah said.

    The agency, according to the NDLEA boss, has declared a total war against cannabis cultivation and promised to deploy adequate resources towards a successful eradication campaign.

  • NDLEA arrests two with narcotics at MMIA

    NDLEA arrests two with narcotics at MMIA

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials yesterday arrested two suspects for alleged drug trafficking at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    The agency said it has uncovered new tricks used by traffickers to circumvent security checks.

    Roland Chukwudi Tochukwu, 37, who was apprehended for allegedly importing 2.045kg of heroin from Nairobi, Kenya, was found with a fake travel ticket indicating that he was coming from China.

    Maduka Nnaemeka Peter, 39, was caught while allegedly attempting to export 1.555kg of cocaine to Dubai.

    Preliminary investigation, according to the NDLEA, revealed that Roland Chukwudi Tochukwu replaced his ticket with a fake one showing that he was coming from China instead of Nairobi.

    This was intended to place him on a low risk profile but his expectations were dashed as the heroin allegedly concealed inside his luggage was detected during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight.

    NDLEA commander, Ahmadu Garba, while giving reasons for the ticket falsification, said the drugs were more expensive in Asia.

    “The suspect wanted to distract the attention of officers by presenting himself as coming from China while he actually took off from Nairobi. This is because it is economically unwise to bring narcotics from China where the price is far higher than here in Nigeria. Heroin weighing 2.045kg was found inside the luggage of Roland while Maduka Nnaemeka Peter also concealed 1.555kg of cocaine in his luggage on his way to Dubai on an Etihad flight,” the commander said.

    He said the suspects, who are from Anambra State, will soon be charged to court.

  • NDLEA arrests two with narcotics at Lagos airport

    Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, have arrested two suspects for drug trafficking.

    The agency has also uncovered new tricks by drug trafficking cartels to circumvent security checks at the nation’s airports.

    A suspected drug trafficker, Roland Chukwudi Tochukwu, 37, who was apprehended for importing 2.045kg of heroin from Nairobi, Kenya, was found in possession of a fake travel ticket indicating that he was coming from China.

    Another suspect, Maduka Nnemeka Peter, 39, was also caught attempting to export 1.555kg of cocaine to Dubai.

    Preliminary investigation by NDLEA revealed that Tochukwu deliberately replaced his ticket with a fake one showing that he was coming from China instead of Nairobi.

    This was intended to place him on a low risk profile but his expectations were dashed as the heroin concealed inside his luggage was detected during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight.

    NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, while explaining reasons for the falsification of the ticket, said drugs are more expensive in Asia.

    “The suspect wanted to distract the attention of officers by presenting himself as coming from China while he actually took off from Nairobi. This is because, it is economically unwise to bring narcotics from China where the price is far higher than here in Nigeria. Heroin weighing 2.045kg was found inside the luggage of Tochukwu while Maduka Nnemeka Peter also concealed 1.555kg of cocaine in his luggage on his way to Dubai on an Etihad flight,” the commander stated.

    Tochukwu, a trader in Onitsha and married with three children, said his friend introduced him into drug trafficking.

    “This was the plan of my friend who introduced me into drug trafficking. I sell clothes in Onitsha but my business is as good as dead due to the economic recession. My friend that I contacted for financial assistance requested that I bring a bag containing heroin from Nairobi. The fake ticket was the plan of my friend who assured me that I will never be caught,” he stated.

    Peter, an automobile parts dealer based in Aba with his wife and two children, said family problem pushed him into drug trafficking.

    “I lost goods worth N4 million few years ago and since then my life has been a shadow of itself. I smuggled the drug for the sum of N200, 000 to solve family problem,” he stated.

     

  • NDLEA arrests 57-year-old woman with cocaine

    NDLEA arrests 57-year-old woman with cocaine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested 57-year-old Mrs. Morayo Odeyemi with substances suspected to be cocaine.

    A statement in Lagos by the agency’s spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the woman was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

    It said that the suspect was Saudi Arabia-bound and that the substance was concealed in her luggage.

    “The suspect, who claimed to be going on a pilgrimage to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, had all the paraphernalia of a pilgrim, save for the narcotic content of her luggage.

    “The two parcels of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine were carefully concealed inside her luggage.

    “The suspect with a valid Egypt Air ticket from Lagos to Saudi Arabia was arrested with 1.595kg of cocaine.

    “The cocaine which was concealed in a false bottom of her bag was discovered during routine check on passengers at the departure hall.

    “We had to cut the bag open to recover the cocaine because of the way it was neatly concealed. She was immediately arrested and the case is currently under investigation,” the statement stated.

    Chairman of NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah, described the suspect’s action as “condemnable”.

    “Smuggling cocaine to Saudi Arabia under any guise is condemnable.“It is good that she was arrested here because drug trafficking attracts capital punishment in Saudi.

    “Apart from saving her from execution in Saudi, the prompt arrest also protected our country from disrepute,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests woman with suspected narcotic substance

    NDLEA arrests woman with suspected narcotic substance

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it had arrested a 57-year-old woman with substance suspected to be cocaine.

    A statement in Lagos by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the woman was apprehended at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

    It said that the suspect was Saudi Arabia-bound, and that the substance was concealed in her luggage.

    “The suspect, who claimed to be going on a pilgrimage to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, had all the paraphernalia of a pilgrim, save for the narcotic content of her luggage.

    “The two parcels of white powdery substance that tested positive for cocaine were carefully concealed inside her luggage.

    “The suspect with a valid Egypt Air ticket from Lagos to Saudi Arabia was arrested with 1.595kg of cocaine.

    “The cocaine which was concealed in a false bottom of her bag was discovered during routine check on passengers at the departure hall.

    “We had to cut the bag open to recover the cocaine because of the way it was neatly concealed. She was immediately arrested and the case is currently under investigation,” the statement stated.

    The statement also quoted Chairman of NDLEA, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as describing the suspect’s action as “condemnable”.

    “Smuggling cocaine to Saudi Arabia under any guise is condemnable.

    “It is good that she was arrested here because drug trafficking attracts capital punishment in Saudi.

    “Apart from saving her from execution in Saudi, the prompt arrest also protected our country from disrepute.

    “The agency will not relent in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse” Abdallah said.  (NAN)

  • Trader jailed 10 years for drug trafficking

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a 41-year-old trader, Okwudili Eboro, to 10 -year imprisonment for drug trafficking.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun convicted him on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to dealing in Methamphetamine, a banned narcotic similar to cocaine.

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Eboro in November 2012 and charged him on one count charge of drug trafficking.

    He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    But he changed his plea to guilty on Thursday when he was re-arraigned.

    Reviewing the facts, prosecution counsel Mr. Fingere Dinneys tendered the convict’s statement, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form and the drug exhibit.

    In his statement to the NDLEA which was read in court, the convict said he was a trader at Lagos Island but his business collapsed.

    According to him, while looking for help, he came across an old friend who promised to give him $5,000 if he could transport a bag of Methamphetamine to India.

    “I decided to do it because my wife was pregnant at that time, and also had a high blood pressure,” he said

    His lawyer, Mrs. Vivienne Ekwegh, urged the court to temper justice with mercy because Eboro was a first offender.

    Justice Olatoregun sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment beginning from the date of his arrest but with an option of N10 million fine.

    She ordered the convict to forfeit to the Federal Government $2,000 recovered from him during his arrest.

    NDLEA arrested him at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airline flight to Addis Abba.

    The prosecutor said the convict, without lawful authority, exported about 4.3kg of Methamphetamine, a drug similar to cocaine and heroin.

    The offence contravened Section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

  • NDLEA prevents exportation of ephedrine to E/Africa

    NDLEA prevents exportation of ephedrine to E/Africa

    Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have prevented the illicit exportation of 26.2kg of ephedrine to Tanzania, East Africa.

    The discovery of the ephedrine hidden inside female foot wear was detected at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during search operations.

    Anti-narcotic officials swiftly arrested an electrician in connection with the illegal shipment.

    Two other suspected drug traffickers, one exporting 305 grammes of cocaine to Cambodia and another importing 1.370kg of cocaine from Sierra Leone were also apprehended as the Agency seized 27.875kg of drugs comprising 26.2kg ephedrine and 1.675kg of cocaine.

    According to the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, the suspects will soon be charged to court.

    “The names of the suspected drug traffickers are Ogujiuba Zacchaeus, 48 years old electrician caught exporting 26.6kg of ephedrine to Tanzania; Uchegbu Emeka, 33 years old textile merchant smuggling 305 grammes of cocaine to Cambodia and Okafor Emeka, 28 years old automobile parts dealer caught importing 1.370kg of cocaine from Sierra Leone.

    “All the cases are being investigated and the suspects will appear in court soon,” he stated.

    The suspects in their statements have adduced various reasons for smuggling narcotics.

  • Two hemp sellers jailed five years

    Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday sentenced two men to five years imprisonment each, for dealing in Cannabis Sativa, popularly called Indian hemp.

    The convicts, Taiwo Ifeanyi, 22, and Akin Adeoye, 21, were handed the jail terms, following their guilty plea to a one count charge of unlawful dealing in banned weed filed against them by the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    While urging the court to sentence the duo, who were charged separately, prosecution counsel Jeremiah Aernan said the convicts were arrested by the agency’s operatives at different locations in Lagos.

    Aernan said while Ifeanyi was arrested in November 25 last year at Igbolowu area of Ikorodu, with one kilogram of the weed, Adeoye was arrested a day earlier at Trailer Park, Haji Camp, NAHCO, Ikeja, Lagos, with the same quantity of the substance.

    He added that upon analysing the weed, it proved to be Cannabis Sativa.

    Aernan said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 11(c) of the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    The duo, who had no legal representation, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy and promised not to return to drug dealing.

    Justice Kuewumi said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the duo to five years imprisonment each.

    He urged the convicts to use their period in jail to turn a new leaf.

  • NDLEA parades policeman, others for ‘drug peddling’ 

    NDLEA parades policeman, others for ‘drug peddling’ 

    The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kogi State yesterday paraded 14 suspected drug peddlers, including a serving police Inspector, Abali Zagi and a dismissed Army Corporal, Umar Shehu, with over 1,083.6 kilogrammes of cannabis, valued at N6 million.
    State Commander Mohammed Bello Idris said the policeman was apprehended with 75 sacks of cannabis, weighing 818kg, around Kabba junction, while returning from Okpela in Edo State.
    The seized drug, worth N4 million, was loaded at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, into a welfare vehicle marked NPF7973C.
    Shehu was arrested with 44kg of suspected cannabis by policemen at Obajana and handed over to the NDLEA.
    Obiora and two others were also arrested with 190 blocks of cannabis and 155.5kg, by the patrol team of the Army, on the Lokoja-Abuja highway.
    Also paraded was Aminat Iredia, 40, who was arrested with 32kg of the banned substance, around Crusher, a suburb of Lokoja metropolis, with her four-year old son.
    Others paraded included Samson Danladi, Musa Lawal, Musa Umar, Anthony Okoh and Shuaibu Ibrahim.
    Commander Idris said the suspects would be charged to court after investigations were concluded.