The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDLEA

  • Market killings: Police quiz nine NDLEA officials

    Market killings: Police quiz nine NDLEA officials

    The police in Abia State command have started interrogating nine staff of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency who were said to have been involved in the shootings at Ariaria International Market on July 31.

    The officers reportedly went to “Black Kingdom” (a popular drug market located around the Bakassi Shoe Plaza) to arrest a drug dealer.

    It was alleged that when the operation failed, the NDLEA men   started shooting in the market at the peak of business activities which resulted in the death of some shoemakers while over six others were injured.

    The Abia State Commander of the anti-drug agency, Mr. Dele Akingbade promised that the agency was going to cooperate with the police in their investigation on the matter, adding that they would also be looking at the type of the ammunition  retrieved from the deceased and injured persons on the fateful day in order to ascertain whether it was the one used by the agency or not.

    The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed that nine persons from NDLEA reported to be among the personnel of the drug law agency that went for the Ariaria operation were undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

    Udeviotu also said that Fire Arms Experts would be involved for analysis to ascertain the owners of ammunition that were used during the operation if the need arises, even as he expressed confidence that the panel investigating the incident were professionals who would to do a thorough job.

    “We can’t say that all of them were involved in the shooting. There so many issue surrounding the incident. It is not just the issue of people who went to work we equally have the issue of who shot and what made them to shoot. It is not something that we are going to do overnight. I don’t know the level of investigation and would not want to preempt the outcome of the investigation. Put I can confirm that they are in our custody and that they are helping us with the investigation.

    The caliber of the ammunition that were used will be determined by the people investigating the matter at the state CID and fire arm experts will be involved if the need be. But I must tell you that I am confident that the people doing the investigation will do a very good and thorough job. So, if the need to verify the type of ammunition arises, the fire arm experts will be involved in the matter” the PPRO stated.

    Meanwhile, traders at the Shoe Line where the incident happened have expressed worries that the NDLEA officials involved in the mayhem were yet to be brought to book in order to serve as a determent to others and however, advised the agency to ensure that they organized training courses for their officers on gun handling in order to ensure that there won’t be a recurrence of such.

    According to one of them who gave his name as Chukwuma, “There is no amount of punishment given to them (NDLEA) staff that would be enough to pay for the death of the three persons that died that very day.

    “All we want is for the officers that were involved in the unfortunate incident to be brought to book. But let me also advice that the NDLEA should regularly send their officers to shooting training. They should be properly thought on how to handle gun and what to do even when they want to scare people away from mobbing them as they claim was the case that unfortunate incident happened.

    “How can trained personnel of the drug agency while wanting to allegedly scare away people bend down and started shooting sporadically? Is that what they (NDLEA) teach their personnel? I am not sure that that is the case, but if that is the case, I guess it was high they were restricted from using arms. It is untrained personnel that will behave the way the officers behaved.

    “This should not be swept under the carpet. Let the investigating officers at the Abia State Command do a thorough and professional job to ensure that justice was done in this matter”, he pleaded.

     

  • Drug saga: NDLEA arrests Arik staff accomplice

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended an Arik Air staff, Ikechukwu Chibuzor Oliver, over his alleged role in the trafficking of cocaine seized by United Kingdom Border Force at Heathrow Airport, London, on Monday.

    Oliver, 35, who works as a catering loader, was found to have subverted airport security by concealing cocaine in catering supplies.

    Preliminary investigation revealed that both Oliver and Chika Egwu Udensi, who was arrested in London on Monday, were infiltrated by a suspected drug cartel.

    Oliver told narcotic investigators that he was invited into illicit drug deal by Udensi.

    “It was Chika (Udensi) that introduced me into the drug deal. Whenever Chika gives me the drug, I will hide it in catering supplies. Chika knows where to collect the drug inside the flight. They pay me four hundred thousand naira (N400,000) per bag.

    “I was expecting 1.2 million naira for the three bags that I smuggled into the aircraft,” Oliver stated.

    He hails from Isialagwa North local government area in Abia State. The graduate of Business Administration was employed by Arik Air in 2009.

    Meanwhile, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade has directed that henceforth all airport workers must be extensively screened.

    “The agency has taken drastic measures to avert infiltration of airport workers by criminal syndicates. Airline officials and airport workers shall be subjected to comprehensive search,” he stated.

  • Drug trafficking: NDLEA invites Arik Air crew members

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has invited the entire crew of Arik Air flight W3101 that left the country for London Heathrow Airport on Monday for questioning.

    This followed the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade’s promise to carry out elaborate investigation into the case.

    According to the spokesman of the agency, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, the latest Range Rover car belonging to the prime suspect parked at the airline’s premises has also been moved to the NDLEA office as exhibit.

    He said the entire crew members including some support staff that worked on the flight before it departed Lagos are currently before narcotic investigators at the Ikoyi Headquarters of the NDLEA.

    They include two pilots and members of the cabin crew comprising an Australian and a South African.

    The invitation by the agency was swiftly complied with by the management of Arik Air.

    The crew members were conveyed to the NDLEA office in an official bus belonging to Arik Air.

    This is part of ongoing investigation to determine their level of involvement in the smuggling of 20 kg of cocaine found with Chika Egwu Udensi, a member of the cabin crew in London.

     

  • NDLEA confiscates 109.800kg of cannabis in Anambra

    NDLEA confiscates 109.800kg of cannabis in Anambra

    •Declares drug baron wanted

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State has confiscated 109.800kg of cannabis from a warehouse at the Onitsha main market.

    It declared a suspect, Uche Baron, said to own the warehouse wanted.

    When the agency stormed the warehouse on August 20, Uche was not found but a suspect, Ugochukwu Chukwu, was arrested.

    Parading the suspect yesterday, a Commander Sule Momodu, warned intending recruits to quit because Anambra was no longer safe for them.

    According to Momodu, Chukwu, an in-law to Uche, had been in the business with him.

    “We will charge this suspect to court because he has violated the law, and we believe the court will do justice when we present our evidence,” Momodu said.

    The commander appealed to the people to come up with information that could lead to Baron’s arrest. “NDLEA can invade the main market, we have the resources and man-power to do so but they should oblige us with needed information that could lead to his arrest” Momodu said.

  • 11 NDLEA personnel in police net over alleged Ariaria killings

    11 NDLEA personnel in police net over alleged Ariaria killings

    Police in Abia State on Friday said 11 personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) who allegedly raided the drug section of Ariaria Market, Aba, on July 31, had been arrested.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Udeviotu Onyeke, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba.

    It will be recalled that in the raid on drug hotspot popularly known as ‘’Black kingdom’’ allegedly carried out a combined team of NDLEA, Army and the Police, two persons were confirmed dead, while six others sustained various degrees of bullet wounds.

    Onyeke said that the suspects, though participated in the raid, may not be responsible for the killings, explaining that they were all taken into custody to aid investigations.

    He said that the investigation may not be completed quickly because the persons involved were security agents and not ordinary civilians.

    According to him, if the investigations are done hurriedly, it may not bring satisfactory result, which is not what the people want.

    The PPRO said that any of the suspects found liable may not be taken straight to court for trial ‘’because they are security agents’’.

    ‘’They will first go through certain internal procedures and punishments by their organisations before they can be turned-in for court trials.

    “So, I urge the people to be patient so that the investigations will be done thoroughly and with satisfactory results,” he said.

  • NDLEA arraigns man over alleged attempt to export narcotic substance

    NDLEA arraigns man over alleged attempt to export narcotic substance

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arraigned a middle-aged man, Emmanuel Nzubeka, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged attempt to export 1.050 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.

    Nzubeka is standing trial on one-count of exporting narcotic substance.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    The Prosecutor, Mr Augustine Nwagu, said the accused was caught with the narcotic substance on June 4, at the SAHCOL Export Shade of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said the substance was found inside Nzubeka’s luggage, adding that Methamphetamine was a drug similar to cocaine and heroin.

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

    “Due to the plea of innocence by the accused, I urge this court to remand him in prison custody pending trial,’’ the prosecutor said.

    Nwagu also said that the court should refuse to hear any bail application because of the gravity of the offence.

    But Counsel to the accused, Mr Oreofe Ogunleye, said that the offence was the kind that an accused can be granted bail.

    “I ask this court to neglect the prayer of the prosecutor and instead grant bail on liberal terms to my client,’’ he said.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa said the accused should be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to September 3 for ruling on bail application.

  • Woman, others arraigned for drug trafficking

    Woman, others arraigned for drug trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned five persons, including a woman, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in 1072.51 grammes of cocaine without lawful authority.

    Prosecuting counsel, Fingere Dinneys said one of the accused persons was trying to export the banned narcotic, while the others imported it.

    Four of them – Patricia Nwaobilo, Cosmos Ezeh, Ugochukwu Alexandre and Chukwuma Udemezue – were arraigned Wednesday, while Prosper Nzom was arraigned on Tuesday.

    The agency said Nzom was arrested on May 22 during the outward clearance of Air France to Holland via France at the screening point of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

    He was caught with 255 grammes of cocaine which the agency said he “exported” without lawful authority.

    Nwaobilo was arrested on May 30 during the inward clearance of Qatar Airline passengers from Daha. He was accused of importing 150 grammes of cocaine.

    Ezeh was caught with 1.220 kg of cocaine on June 2 during the inward clearance of Emirate Airline from Brazil at the airport’s ‘E’ arrival hall.

    The agency said Ugochukwu, on May 31, during the the inward clearance of Arik Air from Angola, imported 1.290kg of cocaine without lawful authority.

    NDLEA officials arrested Udemezue on May 18 during the inward clearance of Etihad Airline from Abu-Dhabi via Brazil with 665 grammes of cocaine.

    The alleged offences contravene Section 11 (a) and (b) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    The accused persons, who were arraigned separately, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charges.

    Dinneys told the court that the agency was ready to proceed with their trial.

    But Justice Mohammed Yunusa ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison pending when he will rule on their bail applications.

     

  • NDLEA intercepts N48m

    NDLEA intercepts N48m

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Abuja has arrested a 25-five-year old man, John Okafor, with N48,450,000, a few weeks after it intercepted $2.1 million in Lagos.

    The money was detected during a routine surveillance on the Abaji-Abuja Expressway.

    NDLEA also nabbed a cannabis dealer, Chukwuka Ugbai, with 79 bags of dried weeds, which tested positive for cannabis, weighing 817kg.

    The  agency’s Federal Capital Territory Commander Mrs. Obijuru Chinyere, said the suspect claimed the money belonged to a bureau de change.

    She said: “The suspect was in a commercial bus from Onitsha in Anambra State when N48,450,000 was found in a brown carton concealed in a sack.

    Also found on him was 86,500 CFA Franc.

    “He claimed the money belongs to a bureau de change in Onitsha.

    ‘’Ugbai was arrested at Bako in Kwali Area Council, following the discovery of his cannabis warehouse.”

    Okafor said he was on an official assignment on behalf of a bureau de change in Anambra State.

    His words: “I work for a bureau de change in Onitsha. I was asked to purchase dollars at the foreign exchange market in Abuja with the money. When we got to Abaji, our vehicle was searched and the money was found. This is all I know.”

    Ugbai was caught in his home.

    He said: “I can say I was not lucky enough because I did not know how they detected my cannabis warehouse. I sell cannabis to take care of my family and pay my children’s school fees. The officers found 79 bags of cannabis in my warehouse. I pray to get out of this problem. I promise never to do it again.”

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, urged the public to adhere to the provisions of the anti-money laundering act.

    He said: “NDLEA is committed to the fight against illicit drugs and related offences, such as money laundering. It is important to comply with the provisions of the act and embrace the cashless policy.

    “The cannabis seizure made at Bako village is part of the drug supply control plan to cut away drugs from the end users. We will be vigilant to identify the violation of the NDLEA Act relating to drug trafficking and money laundering.”

    Okafor has been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and Ugbai will soon be arraigned for unlawful possession of cannabis.

     

  • Drug barons fleeing Nigeria, says NDLEA

    Drug barons fleeing Nigeria, says NDLEA

    The Director-General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Roli Bode-George, has said many drug barons have relocated to neighbouring countries.

    Mrs. Bode George, who is also the secretary of the agency, in a statement yesterday, listed some achievements of the agency as the discovery of six clandestine laboratories in Lagos and Anambra states, destruction of 4,529.15 hectares of Cannabis farms in Osun, Ondo and Edo states.

    She said an operation, code named “Weed Eaters”, led to the removal of Nigeria by the United States from the drug majors’ list, thereby easing security checks and screening on Nigerians travelling outside the country, among others.

    Mrs Bode George said: “NDLEA can boast of a well-trained and knowledgeable workforce capable of meeting the mandate of the agency. This accounts for the impressive records of arrest, seizures and convictions in the last  10 years to justify its effectiveness as a drug law enforcement agency. As a result of these improved agency’s counter-narcotic measures, most drug barons have relocated to neighbouring countries.

    “The growing confidence of the international community on the integrity of the agency has resulted in increased international collaboration with enforcement organisations around the world. The agency is presently collaborating with   enforcement organisations. These include American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom; Federal Police (Fedpol) of Switzerland; BKA of Germany.

    ‘’Other countries with interest in collaborating with the NDLEA are France, Colombia, Brazil, Italy and South Africa among others.

    ‘’These collaborations and cooperation have brought much benefit to the agency, including the establishment of the Special Enforcement Team (SET) involving the NDLEA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States of America; and the Combined Inter- Agency Task Force (CIATF), which involves the NDLEA, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom.

    ‘’The focus of these engagements is on intelligence-sharing, capacity-building and logistic support.

    “The European Union is presently funding a five-year intervention project for organisations involved in the enforcement of organised crimes in Nigeria, of which NDLEA is a major player.

    ‘’The fact that the agency enjoys this international goodwill and continues to record success in its operations as can be seen in the statistics of arrest seizures and asset forfeiture belies the propaganda by traducers.”

  • NDLEA impounds 133.4 kg of cannabis sativa

    NDLEA impounds 133.4 kg of cannabis sativa

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Anambra State has impounded 133.4kg of cannabis sativa at the Onitsha main market, State Commander Mr. Sule Momodusa said yesterday.

    Momodusa said the drugs were seized from Chidiebere Nmezie. He gave names of three other suspects as Izuchukwu Obi, Patrick Ohanazoeze and Chigozie Ogaze.

    The commander said 150.535kg of unit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and cannabis sativa, were also impounded last week.

    He lamented that the drugs were shipped from Delta State through the River Niger, even as he appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to provide the agency with speed boats to enable it patrol the waterways effectively as the agency’s four boats were grounded.

    The NDLEA boss also blasted the judiciary for not giving due punishment to drug offenders, noting that the extant laws had 15 years minimum jail term for offenders.

    He chided most judges for not complying with that, ‘rather they would give jail sentences as ridiculous as six months’.

    Momodusa said the agency secured two convictions from the Federal High Court in Awka, against drug offenders in the month under review.