The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDLEA

  • NDLEA arrests 66 drug suspects in Ondo

    NDLEA arrests 66 drug suspects in Ondo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State at the weekend said it had arrested no fewer than 66 drug offenders in the state between January and May this year.

    State Commander Mr. Mohammed Malami Sokoto spoke at a news conference on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in Akure, the state capital. The event was themed “Just Listen”.

    Sokoto said those arrested were 55 males and 11 females. He added that 22 of the suspects had been charged to court and convicted to various jail terms.

    He said the agency had seized Cannabis sativa weighing 1,348.62kgs within the period under review.

    The NDLEA boss, who noted that there was a reduction in the demand for drugs, said 23 persons were under counseling and seven had been rehabilitated.

    He hinted that the agency destroyed 36.7tons of cannabis at a farm land.

  • Cocaine, heroin ‘mainly used’ in Lagos, says NDLEA

    Cocaine, heroin ‘mainly used’ in Lagos, says NDLEA

    •‘Cannabis most commonly produced, trafficked, abused drug in Nigeria’

    A COMMUNITY-based surveys have shown that heroin and cocaine are mainly used in Lagos, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Director-General Mrs Roli Bode-George said yesterday.

    She said other cosmopolitan state capitals were also reported as places where the two narcotic substances are widely used.

    At a inter- ministerial briefing on the commemoration of International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Mrs George described cannabis as the most produced, trafficked and abused drug in the country.

    She said the use of amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) is predominant in the northern part.

    Mrs George identified synergy among stakeholders as the major achievement of the current Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).

    “The agency has recorded great success in the implementation of the Drug Control Master Plan. Most significant is the high level of synergy among stakeholders. Drug trafficking is a thriving business and a serious issue in Nigeria that requires strong, concerted control efforts. To effectively address the challenge of drug abuse in Nigeria, sensitisation, advocacy and prevention programmes remain vital,” she said.

    An emerging problem with the abuse of Zakami (Datura Metel), an indigenous plant and solvents were also found among marginalised youths and street children in some northern States.

    “Persons Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) however constitute one of the most at risk groups for HIV infections in Nigeria. NDLEA between 2010 and 2014 covered an average of 1,000 schools annually in drug use prevention enlightenment”, she said.

    A director in the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Isaac Idu, said the NSA’s office would support the fight against drug trafficking.

    Corps Commander Oladunni Olaniyan, a Corps Medical Rescue Officer with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said the commission is involved in drug control programmes.

    “FRSC is partnering with NDLEA because when people take drugs and drive, they constitute a serious threat to lives and property,” Oladunni stated.

    A Deputy Director in the Ministry of Health, Mrs Celine Onunkwo, hailed NDLEA for reducing drug trafficking.

  • Consumption of cocaine, heroin prevalent in Lagos – George

    Consumption of cocaine, heroin prevalent in Lagos – George

    The Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Roli Bode George, on Tuesday said community based surveys have revealed that consumption of heroin and cocaine is very prevalent in Lagos.

    Apart from Lagos, she said other cosmopolitan state capitals have also been reported as places where the two narcotic substances are widely used.

    Speaking at a Inter- ministerial committee briefing as part of commemoration of international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, George said cannabis is the most produced, trafficked and abused drug in the country.

    She said the use of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) is predominant in the northern part of the country.

    She said the theme of the event is on evidence based drug abuse prevention with the slogan: “Listen First.”

    In her welcome remarks, George identified synergy among stakeholders as the major achievement of the current Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP).

    “The Agency has recorded great success in the implementation of the Drug Control Master Plan. Most significant is the high level of synergy among stakeholders. Drug trafficking is a thriving business and a serious issue in Nigeria that requires strong and concerted efforts. To effectively address the challenge of drug abuse in Nigeria, sensitisation, advocacy and prevention programmes remain vital,” she stated.

  • NDLEA arraigns bank, managers for money laundering

    NDLEA arraigns bank, managers for money laundering

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned two Diamond Bank Plc managers Lasisi Abayomi and Hillary Ojukwu at the Federal High Court in for money laundering.

    They were charged along with the bank, Oni Oil and Gas Ltd and Mrs Lizzy Chinyere Ikenua.

    Prosecution counsel Augustine Nwagu said the defendants in August 2006 failed to verify the true identities of its customer Oni Oil and Gas, the late Chief Onoche Ikenua Mrs. Ikenua before opening an account in their favour.

    The bank was accused of failing to report the suspicious transaction to the Financial Intelligence Unit.

    NDLEA said Ojukwu, between August and December 2006, aided Oni Oil and Gas, the late Ikenua and Mrs Ikenua to convert various sums of money derived directly or indirectly from illicit traffic in narcotic drugs .

    The alleged offence is contrary to Section 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004″.

    The charge against the bank reads: “That you Diamond Bank Plc, a financial institution, between the months of August 2006 to October at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court failed to report suspicious transactions on account no. 0212010006203 in the name of Oni oil and Gas Ltd and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6(9) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004”.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola granted them bail for N1million each with one surety in the like sum and adjourned until June 27 for trial.

  • Cocaine ingestion forces plane to land in Lagos

    An Emirates flight EK 262 from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates has made an emergency landing in Lagos on Saturday due to the deteriorating health condition of a suspected cocaine trafficker.
    Screening by anti-narcotic officials found four passengers positive for drug ingestion who are currently under interrogation.
    One of the suspects in critical health condition was immediately hospitalised as doctors battle to save his life.
    Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) who said that the suspect is responding to treatment called for stiffer penalty against drug trafficking.
    Abdallah said that the Agency needs the cooperation of all stakeholders to send a warning to drug trafficking organisations.
    According to Abdallah, “NDLEA is taking necessary measures to protect and promote the image of Nigeria and will resist any attempt to undermine the gains so far recorded in the fight against drug control.
    ” Drug traffickers must be severely punished to reduce the number of persons getting involved in the criminal act. All hands must be on deck to condemn drug trafficking in its entirety”.
    NDLEA commander at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mr. Ahmadu Garba said that the Emirates flight left Sao Paulo, Brazil to Dubai but was forced to come to Lagos due to the health condition of a passenger on board who ingested cocaine.
    “A passenger complained of severe abdominal pains and later suffered three recurrent seizures thus necessitating an emergency landing in Lagos.
    “Upon arrival, four passengers tested positive for narcotic ingestion. They are Okeh Desmond, Ezeanya Nnaemeka, Christopher Nonso and Chibusi Promise. All the suspects are under observation” Garba stated.

    It will be recalled that the NDLEA has beamed its search light on flights originating from Brazil and Dubai in recent times because of its notoriety in cocaine trafficking.

  • Man bags 14 years jail term for importing cocaine

    Man bags 14 years jail term for importing cocaine

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced a convicted drug peddler, Anthony Chidi Ikeaba to 14 years imprisonment for importing cocaine into the country.

    Ikeaba pleaded guilty to a one-count amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/962016, filed against him by the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    ‎He was arrested on April 20 this year at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja with cocaine on his arrival from the Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE).

    After the prosecution reviewed the facts of the case yesterday, Justice Abang convicted and sentenced Ikeaba to 14 years imprisonment.

    The judge directed that the sentence should take effect from ‎the date the convict was arrest – April 20, 2016.

  • NDLEA arraigns woman for planting cocaine in pastor’s house

    NDLEA arraigns woman for planting cocaine in pastor’s house

    The Federal High Court in Kano is set to commence the trial of a thirty year old woman who was caught planting cocaine in a pastor’s house by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The accused will appear before Justice Zainab Abubakar on Wednesday, May 25th, 2016.

    According to the NDLEA Kano State Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, preliminary investigation revealed that the accused Mrs. Joy Ogundare who lives in the same compound with Pastor Richard Ekenne was caught red-handed planting 2.2grams of cocaine in the apartment of Richard.

    The accused in her statement explained that she wanted to implicate Pastor Richard because of the misunderstanding between her and the Pastor.

    “I am not in good terms with Pastor Richard. We even have a pending case at the Magistrate Court here in Kano. That was why I wanted to plant cocaine in his apartment to implicate him but I was caught in the process by NDLEA Officers,” she stated.

    NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.)  assured that the case will be diligently prosecuted adding that the Agency will continue to uphold the rule of law. “

    “The Agency respects the rule of law and will remain meticulous in its operations. We are pursuing this case to a logical conclusion. Everything possible will be done to prevent the innocent from being punished while the guilty will never escape justice,” Abdallah stated.

     

  • US gives NDLEA $10m

    US gives NDLEA $10m

    The United States has provided training to 1,580 officers and supplied equipment worth $10 million to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    The Consul General, John Bray, made this known at the presentation of 11 operational vehicles to the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Agency, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah, in Lagos.

    The envoy promised to increase support to the NDLEA in drug control.

    Abdallah said: “Mr. President is pleased with the impressive scorecard of the Agency. The recent discovery of a super methamphetamine laboratory in Asaba, Delta State and the arrest of suspected drug kingpins, including four Mexicans and five Nigerians, is very encouraging.”

     

     

  • Cocaine trafficker sentenced to 12 years

     

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court 10, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Monday May 16, 2016 sentenced a thirty-one (31) year old technician, Michael Nwobodo to twelve years imprisonment with hard labour.

     

    The convict who attempted to escape on the day of arrest will now spend twelve years in prison custody with hard labour.

    He pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of cocaine, an offence punishable under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.

     

    Justice Okon in his judgement observed that the illicit drug trade was not abating and that measures must be taken to stop the criminal act.

    NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) commended the ruling, adding that the agency will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the fight against illicit drugs in the country.

     

    “This will serve both as a deterrent and a corrective measure to the convict and others who are involved in narcotic production, trafficking and abuse. The Agency will not relent in partnering with stakeholders in apprehending and prosecuting drug traffickers” Abdallah stated.

    It will be recalled that the convict who was arrested on February 29, 2016 with eighty-one wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg on his way from Dubai attempted to escape by breaking through a glass wall at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja.

     

    He was later arrested and treated for the injuries he sustained. The 81 wraps of cocaine were concealed in Parker Whisky packs along with boxes of chocolates inside a duty free bag.

    Michael Nwobodo reportedly told officials that he was not under the influence of narcotics but only tried to escape because of fear of going to prison.

    NDLEA commander at the Abuja airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan said that more passengers coming from Dubai had been found with cocaine at the Abuja airport in recent times.

  • Mother of five jailed for cannabis possession in Calabar

    Mother of five jailed for cannabis possession in Calabar

    A 35-year old mother of five children, Grace Edem Asuquo, has been sentenced to imprisonment for one year and six months without option of fine for being in possession of 400 grammes of cannabis sativa.

    The sentence was passed by Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Calabar.

    Witness for the prosecution, Ochika Simon, a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said on January 26, 2016, a team of NDLEA operatives led by Danladi Abu arrested Asuquo with dried weed substance suspected to be cannabis sativa concealed in a multi-coloured school bag.

    He said he asked her who owned the substance and she admitted ownership.

    “I then used the United Nations Testing Kit to field test the substance and the substance tested positive of cannabis sativa. I then weighed the substance and it weighed four hundred grammes,” he said.

    Asuquo said she was a married 35 year old mother of five.

    She said she stopped schooling in Primary 6 and owns a provision store.

    She said her eldest child is 20 while her last one is six and begged the Court for mercy.

    The defendant’s counsel, Eni Okoi, prayed the court to acknowledge the fact that the convict is a first time offender and has not taken the court through a lengthy trial but accepted her guilty early.

    In the sentence, Justice Ekwo said counsel for the convict said she was a first offender and did not take the court through a lengthy trial and urged the Court to exercise leniency.

    Ekwo noted that the prosecution did not have any record of previous conviction, which meant she was a first offender.

    The sentence read, “Therefore in passing this sentence, I will take into account the fact that convict is a first offender, I will take into account the fact that the convict is a first offender, the quantity in her possession and the period of detention. I will therefore exercise leniency by not imposing maximum sentence. Convict is hereby sentenced to 1 year, 6 months imprisonment without option of fine with effect from 26/01/2016.”