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Tag: NDLEA

  • Three dead in NDLEA, hoodlums clash in Kwara

    Three dead in NDLEA, hoodlums clash in Kwara

    Three persons were allegedly feared killed during a clash between street urchins and officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Two of the dead persons were said to be passers-by and the third person one of the hoodlums.

    But the state police command confirmed that only two persons died in the incident.

    The fracas affected Oja-Oba, Gambari, Ipata and Okelele areas of the metropolis.

    The rampaging hoodlums also allegedly attacked sanitation officers and disrupted the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in parts of the metropolis.

    The miscreants were said to have invaded two mobile courts sitting at different locations in the state capital and disrupted proceedings.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums were protesting the enforcement of restriction of movement by law enforcement agents.

    The duration for the exercise was between 7 and 9.00am.

    In the ensuing fracas, the hoodlums allegedly torched shops, houses and property worth millions of naira.

    While about eight hoodlums armed with dangerous objects invaded a court session at Oja-Oba area, it was the same scenario at Ipata mobile court where some youths protesting closure of road threw the court into disarray.

    The situation forced the court’s presiding judge and sanitation officers to flee the scene for fear of being attacked.

    The hoodlums, including some ladies, sporadically fired gunshots into the air, brandishing various dangerous weapons and throwing pebbles, broken tiles and bottles at their targets.

    The protesters were said to have used clay pots to cover their heads to protect themselves from being shelled while they unleashed terror on the community.

    In the middle of the crisis, men of the state fire service department were drafted to put off the raging fire with various properties set ablaze.

    Speaking on the incident, spokesperson of the Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said: “There was a kind of an ugly situation there. There was confrontation between miscreants and security operatives.

    “It was as a result of problem between the NDLEA and drug users in that area.

    “That was what caused the crisis and the police came and rescued the NDLEA officer and we are trying to control the miscreants there.

    “Some houses have been attacked. We have arrested some people. I can confirm that two people died.

    “They were attacking anything they saw. They did not identify any special place to attack. They were just attacking. The matter started with the issue of the NDLEA that arrested one of them in the past.

    “The hoodlums today sighted one of the NDLEA officers involved in the arrest in that area. He ran to police station and police tried to rescue him. The hoodlums became annoyed and started attacking places and people. ”

     

  • NDLEA impounds 810.1kg of cannabis

    NDLEA impounds 810.1kg of cannabis

    National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have impounded compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis sativa weighing 810.1kilogrammes.

    They were seized during a raid of some hideouts in Lagos. The first consignment weighing 658.8 kilogrammes believed to have been imported from Ghana was detected at Alaba Rago area of Lagos.

    The team also discovered another 151.3 kilogrammes at Agege where two suspected drug dealers were apprehended.

    Lagos State NDLEA commander Aliyu Sule, who confirmed the raid, said it was based on intelligence report.

    “Acting on intelligence report, we raided the water front at Alaba Rago area where we found compressed dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis.

    “The team also raided Kasamu Street in Agege where 151.3 kilogrammes of cannabis was found hidden in the ceiling. Both seizures weighed 810.1 kilogrammes. Two suspected cannabis dealers, Raji Kabir, 22 and Yusuf Bako, 19, arrested during the operation are cooperating with our team of investigators,” Aliyu said.

    Kabir, who hails from Oyo State, said he has been dealing in cannabis for over five years.

    “I was introduced into cannabis smoking by friends. Later, I began to sell cannabis at Agege and I used to make a profit of N2,000 daily. I have stopped selling hemp about three times but I keep coming back to the business because I have no money to sustain myself. We were sleeping when officers came to search our house and found the drug inside the ceiling,” he said.

    Bako from Kebbi State told investigators that he sells hemp to sustain himself.

    “After my primary school in Lagos I enrolled as an apprentice in an electrical workshop since I cannot further my education. My friends introduced me to cannabis smoking. I began to sell about a year ago in order to sustain myself. The day I did not go to work, I will go and sell hemp. I used to earn N1,200 daily. We were sleeping at night when NDLEA officers came to arrest us and discovered the hemp in the ceiling,” he said.

    Following intelligence report that the cannabis originated from Ghana, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade has directed his commanders to intensify surveillance along the water ways.

    “I have directed commanders to intensify maritime surveillance to prevent drugs from being smuggled into the country through the water. We are also working very hard to identify other members of the drug cartels. I can assure you that we will not relent in our offensive against drug cartels,” Giade said.

    He called on parents to monitor their children, adding that good parental care will go a long way in preventing drug trafficking and abuse.

  • NDLEA arrests students with guns

    NDLEA arrests students with guns

    The Bayelsa State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassomma and an auto mechanic for allegedly being in possession of four guns.

    They were said to have been arrested recently along the East-West road.

    The suspects were, however, said to have confessed to be cult members, saying they were not armed robbers.

    The NDLEA, in a statement on Friday, said the suspects were arrested during a stop-and-search operation along the East-West road.

    It said the three suspects were in a commercial vehicle en-route Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, from Ughelli in Delta State.

    “At the time of their arrest, they were found to be in possession of three locally-made single barreled pistols and one locally-made double barreled pistol, along with two rounds of live cartridges.”

    The agency also said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution.

    The command advised parents, guardians and other caregivers to always pay attention to the activities of their children and wards.

    It said the command  would continue to combat illicit drug trade, consumption and all other related offences with the ultimate aim of making the state drug and crime-free.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr Asinim Butswat,  confirmed that the suspects were handed over to the police.

    He said they were handed over to the anti-cultism and anti – kidnapping unit of the police in the state.

    Butswat said: “The suspects are with us. We are working with them to bust their syndicate and arrest more members. Investigation is ongoing.”

  • NDLEA finds cannabis in head-mistress’ luggage

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled a 30-year-old man’s attempt to smuggle cannabis to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in an headmistress’ luggage.

    The drug, which weighed 130 grammes, was packed inside an alcoholic beverage , Alomo Bitters. The substance was detected at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The suspect, Nnadi Chibueze, allegedly concealed the drug and gave it to the woman to deliver in Dubai.

    NDLEA Airport Commander Mr. Hamza Umar said: “As soon as the drug was detected, we conducted a follow-up raid that led to the arrest of the main suspect, Nnadi Chibueze. He has owned up to the crime and the case is being investigated for subsequent prosecution.”

    According to Chibueze, the drug consignment was inadvertently given to the head mistress. “I personally concealed the cannabis inside one of the bottles of Alomo Bitters. The original plan was to send the drug to my brother in Dubai through a friend, but the consignment was given to the head mistress in error. When I was told that the goods were given to her, I was greatly disturbed. It was a great mistake that she was given the consignment that contained the drug,” he said.

    The suspect, who hails from Imo State, claimed to be a 2008 graduate of Physics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

  • Security operatives meet on elections

    Security operatives in Anambra State, including para-military outfits, met yesterday in Awka to deliberate on violence-free elections.

    The meeting, held at Barnhill Hotels, Awka, was organised by Police Commissioner Hosea Karma. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was in attendance.

    Also at the meeting were the Navy, Department of State Security (DSS), National Orientation Agency (NOA), the military, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Customs, Immigration, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others.

    Candidates and party leaders were at the parley.

    Karma said the command would arrest anybody who violated the law.

    He assured that security operatives would be impartial and professional.

    His words: “The Nigeria Police and other security agencies are determined to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections.

    “We have put in place measures and strategies to ensure security.

    “Let us make Nigeria great by preaching peace, shunning violence and acts that can breed violence.”

    The state Director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, warned parties to desist from destroying the opposition’s billboards, saying anybody caught would be punished.

    He said his office had discovered that harassment and intimidation of non- indigenes were on the rise. Okeiyi urged parties to engage in issue-based campaigns, instead of blackmail.

    “You should leave out our students in this act. Anambra is a unique state, but the problem here is impunity. We want to change the face of elections in this state.”

    The Director of NYSC, Mrs. Robinca Isioma Odigwe, warned politicians not to engage corps members in shady activities during the elections.

    She said: “Our concern is the safety of corps members. We have advised them to be careful during the elections.”

  • NDLEA laments rise in drug trafficking at Lagos airport

    NDLEA laments rise in drug trafficking at Lagos airport

    Drug trafficking rose by 16.22 per cent in the past two years at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday.

    Drug seizures fell by 33.68 kilogrammes during the period.

    Last year, NDLEA’s  Airport Command apprehended 129 suspected traffickers comprising 118 men and 11 women, with 436.065 kilogrammes of drugs.

    In 2013, the agency arrested 93 suspects with 878.81kilogrammes of narcotics.

    A breakdown showed that last year 120.44 kilogrammes; methamphetamine, 108.645 kilogrammes of Gzaine; cannabis sativa, 107.855 kilogrammes; heroin, 51.01kilogrammes; psychotropic substances, 37.285 kilogrammes and ephedrine, 10.83kilogrammes were seized.

    The estimated street value of the seized drugs according to the agency, is N2.9 billion.

    Its Lagos Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, said 117 drug were apprehended aboard 18 airlines.

    “More arrests of drug suspects were made on Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, South African and Qatar Airways. A total of 44 suspects were caught trying to import narcotics into the country. South Africa, China and United Arab Emirates top the list of preferred destinations by suspects. The command received 229 people who were deported on drug-related charges,” Umar said.

    Of the 229 drug-related deportees, 39 came from Italy; 37 United States; 36 Spain; 31, Norway 22, Thailande, Saudi Arabia, 14; Switzerland, 13; France, seven; United Arab Emirates (UAE), five; Greece, four, Brazil and Sweden, three each.

    Australia, India and South Africa, two each; Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Turkey Uganda and United Kingdom (UK), one each.

    Twenty-one persons were arrested on Ethiopian Airlines; Emirates 17; Etihad Airways 12; South African Airways 11; Qatar Airways 10; Turkish Air seven; Air France and Arik Air two each; Kenyan Airways and Royal Air Maroc, five each; Alitalia and Rwand Air four each. Egypt Airline, three; Cargolux, two, Africa World Airline, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa, one each.

    The commander said suspects adopted different methods of concealment.

    “Those that ingested narcotics were 29, while 88 traffickers hid drugs in their luggage. Four of the traffickers were caught in connection with anal ingestion; one female suspect inserted drug in her private part and one other packed the drug on his body. The MMIA command also made the following financial seizures: $24, 362 dollars; 23,450 Euros;  E10,000; N240,000 and 1,140 South African Rand. In addition, 107 ATM cards and take $252,500 were intercepted,” he said.

  • NDLEA seizes 6,821kg of drugs in Kogi

    NDLEA seizes 6,821kg of drugs in Kogi

    The Kogi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said yesterday it has seized 6,821.42 kilogramme of illicit drugs and impounded 11 vehicles in the outgoing year.

    NDLEA State Commander Idris Bello spoke in Lokoja, the state capital.

    He said 184 suspects were arrested in connection with drug-related offences and 16 were convicted.

    Bello said the command executed a large scale operation in the year under review in Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area, which he said led to the destruction of four large cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) farms measuring approximately 35 acres.

  • NDLEA arrests four suspected drug traffickers

    NDLEA arrests four suspected drug traffickers

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The suspects are: Omidiya Taiwo (44), who works at a foreign automobile company; Anikwe Chukwudi Charles (25), a hotel attendant in Lagos; Igwe Nelson Chidi (24), a student, and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil (44), an Imo State-based farmer. About 6.135 kilogrammes of narcotics were seized from them.

    NDLEA Lagos Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar gave the breakdown of the drug as 4.290 kilogrammes of heroin; 570 grammes of methamphetamine and 1.275 kilogrammes of cocaine.

    “Omidiya Taiwo was found in possession of 525 grammes of cocaine and 1.540 kilogrammes of heroin. He ingested 87 wraps and concealed others in his pants on his way to Spain. Anikwe Chukwudi Charles was intercepted with 570 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in the handles of his luggage on his way to Malaysia. Igwe Nelson Chidi was found with 750 grammes of cocaine hidden under his luggage and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil was caught with 2.750 kilogrammes of heroin hidden inside his luggage while returning from Pakistan. They are cooperating with our team of investigators and will be charged to court soon,” Umar said.

    Taiwo, who works in Spain, said he was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend. “I have been living in Spain for the past 14 years where I work with an automobile company. My friend in Barcelona called me and requested that I should bring drugs to Spain. He even contacted somebody who gave me the drugs in Lagos. After swallowing 87 wraps, I hid the remaining in my pants because the wraps were many. I was sad when the drug was detected at the airport because I would have made a fortune from it,” Omidiya, who hails from Ogun State, said.

    Charles said he was on his way to Malaysia for studies when he was caught with the drugs. “I was working as a hotel attendant in Lagos when a customer asked me if I am a graduate. I told him that I have five credits but could not go further in my education because of lack of finance. He promised to help me and he used to give me money any time he came around. He called me that he had completed my admission for further studies in Malaysia. That was how he paid my travel expenses and gave me a bag to take to Malaysia. He said his friend would collect the bag from me and assist me secure my admission. Unfortunately, drug was found inside the handle of the bag he gave me.”

    Chidi, who hails from Imo State, said: “I got admission two months ago to study Tourism and Hotel Management in Cyprus. While in Nigeria, a friend in Cyprus called me to bring narcotics for a fee of E5,000. That was how I got involved in drug trafficking. I wanted to use the money to settle my fees and buy books for my study. This is a big setback for my career.”

    Basil, a farmer, said he was suffering in the village when his friend asked him to go to Pakistan. “I am a farmer in Imo State. It was difficult for me to feed my wife with one child because of hardship. A friend invited me to Pakistan and promised to sponsor my trip and help me secure a good job. When I got to Pakistan, he told me there was no job but that I should take drugs to Nigeria. He promised to give me N500, 000 to start up my business if I succeeded in taking the drugs to Nigeria. Since life was becoming unbearable, I decided to take the risk. I was, however, not lucky as I was arrested at the airport in Lagos.”

    NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade warned drug trafficking syndicates that the agency would continue to intercept narcotics, arrest traffickers and prosecute them.

    “We have put in place measures to intercept narcotics this end-of-year season. Drug traffickers planning to smuggle drugs through the country shall be apprehended and prosecuted. I am happy with the arrests, particularly that of 25-year-old Anikwe Chukwudi Charles, a hotel attendant, who was taking drugs to Malaysia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment, “he said.

  • NDLEA arrests four with 6.135kg of drugs

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended four suspected drug traffickers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

    The suspects include Omidiya Taiwo, a 44- year- old man that works in an automobile company in Barcelona, Anikwe Chukwudi Charles, 25 year old hotel attendant in Lagos, Igwe Nelson Chidi, 24 year old student in Cyprus and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil, 44- year -old farmer in Imo State.

    A total of 6.135kg of narcotics were seized from them.

    NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, gave the breakdown of the drug as 4.290kg of heroin, 570 grammes of methamphetamine and 1.275kg of cocaine.

    “Omidiya Taiwo was found in possession of 525 grammes of cocaine and 1.540kg of heroin. He ingested 87 wraps and concealed others in his pants on his way to Spain. Anikwe Chukwudi Charles was intercepted with 570 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in his luggage handles on his way to Malaysia, Igwe Nelson Chidi was found with 750 grammes of cocaine hidden under his luggage and Agomuo Ekwutosi Basil was caught with 2.750kg of heroin hidden inside duty free bag inside his luggage while returning from Pakistan. They are cooperating with our team of investigators and will be charged to court soon,” Hamza stated.

    Taiwo said he was introduced into drug trafficking by a friend.

    “I have been living in Spain for the past 14 years where I work with an automobile company. My friend in Barcelona called me requesting that I should bring drugs to Spain. He even contacted somebody who gave me the drugs in Lagos. After swallowing 87 wraps, I hid the remaining in my pants because the wraps were many. I was sad when the drug was detected at the airport because I would have made a fortune from it,” Omidiya lamented.

    He hails from Ogun State.

    Charles, who hails from Anambra, said he was on his way to Malaysia for studies when he was caught with the drugs.

    He stated, “I was working as a hotel attendant in Lagos when a customer asked me if I am a graduate. I told him that I have five credits but could not further my education because of lack of finance. He promised to help me and used to give me money any time he comes around. He called me that he has completed my admission to further my studies in Malaysia. That was how he paid my travel expenses and gave me a bag to take to Malaysia. He told me his friend will collect the bag from me and assist me with my school admission. Unfortunately, drug was found inside the handle of the bag he gave me.”

  • Jonathan’s new-found love for South-west

    Jonathan’s new-found love for South-west

    IR: As 2015 general elections draw near with some politicians desperately courting the Yoruba race for support, may I just use this medium to conscientize the Yoruba race to the need to be wise and tactical before supporting anybody, particularly President Goodluck Jonathan who is obviously frantically in need of the South-west votes to secure his second term in office.

    One is particularly upset by the President’s insensitivity to the Yoruba in the power sharing during his out-going tenure. Is it not shocking to note that from number one most important position to number 22 in this country, President Jonathan did not deem it fit to appoint a single  Yoruba person?

    Besides, nothing illustrates President Jonathan’s hatred for Yoruba better than the way he removed some Yoruba people from key positions on allegation of being too close to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. To buttress my point, I recalled how he removed Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary. Yomi Bolarinwa was removed as Director General of Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Otunba Segun Runsewe was removed as Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and replaced with people from other ethnic nationalities.

    Now that 2015 is around the corner, President Jonathan who had been hitherto treating Yoruba with disdain suddenly woke up to the importance of the race in his re-election bid, using chiefs Bode George and Ebenezer Babatope as campaign managers for South-west. It cannot work. Yoruba are no fools. We cannot be deceived this time around.

    This is where Yoruba must be wise. We all know that Chief Bode George is in search of rehabilitation. More so, he must justify the appointment of his wife as Director General of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), hence his determination to do the master’s bidding.

    But where was Chief George when President Jonathan was removing Yoruba people from key positions? Let it be said that this campaign will not achieve its intended result.

    President Jonathan should look elsewhere for support and leave Yoruba race alone. Yoruba are too politically sophisticated to be manipulated. We have seen Jonathan’s  performance in the last four years. We have seen the amount of fresh air he has brought to Nigeria. We have equally seen the transformation in terms of security of lives and property, in terms of electricity supply as well as sundry service deliveries.

    Nobody is deceived by the pro-Jonathan summit by some so-called leaders of South-west at Ife. We know where our votes are going to be. We are tired of ineptitude in governance. We are tired of corruption. There has not been significant improvement in our lives in the last four years. Our naira is now almost 200 to a dollar. The Yoruba want a change. We will vote for a change. From all indications, we need a change. We will vote for a change because change is inevitable. Yoruba, be wise, go for a change for the situation in the country is becoming unbearable . From insecurity to unemployment to corruption, let us go for a change.

     

     

    • Chief Kola Aderemi Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State