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  • 3 NDLEA officers hospitalised after sustaining gunshot injuries

    3 NDLEA officers hospitalised after sustaining gunshot injuries

    Three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have been hospitalized for gunshot injuries sustained after they came under attack from some armed men during a raid operation in the Jahi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday night.

    A statement by the Director Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said, “The incident occurred when a team of NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence and surveillance report raided an uncompleted building at NNPC area of Jahi where 74 bottles of codeine, 10 liters of codeine syrup, 48 grams of tramadol 225mg and 4.9kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, as well as five android phones were recovered.

    “As the NDLEA team made their way out of the location, they came under gun attack.

    “Three of the NDLEA personnel involved in the raid sustained gunshot injuries: one in the rib and two others on their back and leg.

    “The wounded officers were initially stabilized at the Police Clinic in Garki Area 1 before they were transferred to the National Hospital Abuja for further medical attention.”

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), expressed appreciation to the staff of the Police Clinic for their prompt support.

    He also thanked the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, whom he reached out to for assistance in overseeing the treatment of the wounded officers.

    The NDLEA boss, who is in Kano on official engagements, also spoke on the phone with the injured officers to wish them a quick recovery.

    He assured them that the Agency would deploy every means at its disposal and work in collaboration with other security agencies to identify those responsible for the attack on them.

  • Customs hand over 4,973 loaves of cannabis, suspects to NDLEA

    Customs hand over 4,973 loaves of cannabis, suspects to NDLEA

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has officially handed over 4,973 loaves of Cannabis Sativa and two suspects to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.

    The command said it had also transferred 195 bottles of 300ml codeine to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

    The NCS disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Friday, stating that the handover took place at the command headquarters on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

    According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, the seizure resulted from intensified patrol operations across the South-Western waterways.

    “You will recall just last week, on Friday 21st February 2025 to be precise, the command informed members of the press of the seizure of 53 sacks of Cannabis Sativa,” Bamisaiye stated.

    Related News

    He revealed that in another operation on Monday, February 24, a patrol team intercepted two suspects within the Badagry axis, concealing 29 loaves of Cannabis Sativa in a sack of rebagged rice.

    The two suspects

    “This success is a result of strong inter-agency collaboration. No single agency can win this fight alone; together, we are making a real impact,” he said, reaffirming the commitment of the NCS to securing Nigeria’s waterways and curbing illicit trade.

    The Customs chief further issued a stern warning to smugglers, saying, “Our message to smugglers is clear; we are vigilant, resolute, and will not relent.”

    While receiving the items, the Marine Commander of the NDLEA, Emmanuel Udo, assured that the agency would ensure proper investigation and prosecution of the suspects, commending the Customs Service for its sustained efforts in combating drug trafficking.

    The Western Marine Command has been intensifying its anti-smuggling operations, particularly along Nigeria’s waterways, as part of broader national efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking and smuggling activities.

  • NDLEA foils attempt to export drugs concealed in duvets to UK, arrests two suspects

    NDLEA foils attempt to export drugs concealed in duvets to UK, arrests two suspects

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Sunday that its operatives intercepted a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden inside duvets and packaged for export to the United Kingdom.

    The seizure was made at the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

    NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that the discovery, made on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, led to the arrest of two suspects: Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun.

    “Six parcels of the psychoactive substance weighing 3.50 kilograms were concealed within the duvets,” Babafemi said. He added that Austin Balogun, the primary agent behind the operation, admitted he was paid ₦700,000 to arrange the shipment but used most of the money for apartment rent and export handling charges.

    In another operation, NDLEA operatives raided a hideout in the Igbo Olumo area of Ikorodu, Lagos, arresting Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun. Seven liters of skuchies—a psychoactive mixture of black currant, cannabis, and opioids—were recovered.

    Other items seized included: Three locally made double-barrel rifles, One locally made double-barrel pistol, One English-made pistol, One locally made single-barrel rifle, Three cartridges, An empty 9mm cartridge and An iron-headed axe

    A separate operation in Lagos’ Akala area, Mushin, on Sunday, January 19, resulted in the confiscation of 47kg of skunk (a potent cannabis strain) and 25.46kg of nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

    In Ekiti State, NDLEA officers arrested Adepoju Taiwo, 26, on January 23, with 1.95kg of Canadian Loud on Iworoko Road, Ado-Ekiti.

    In Kwara State, Auwal Sani was apprehended on January 20 in Bode Saadu, Moro LGA, with 50,000 tramadol pills (225mg) weighing 36.56kg.

    Three suspects—Abubakar Lami (45), Abba Sani (35), and Auwal Aliyu (32)—were arrested in Gadar Tamburawa, Kano. Operatives recovered 13.1kg of skunk and 125 liters of suck and die, a new psychoactive substance.

    In Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu LGA, a cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed. A suspect, Sabo Ali Muhammad, 45, was arrested in connection to the farm.

    NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization programs across the country. Highlights include lectures in schools such as: Army Children Secondary School, Oyo, Oyo State, Government Day Secondary School, Gwadangwaji, Kebbi State, St. Dominic Comprehensive College, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, District Junior College, Agege, Lagos, Pompomari community, and Damaturu, Yobe State

    NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, and Ekiti for their arrests and seizures. He also praised their counterparts nationwide for intensifying WADA’s advocacy and sensitization efforts.

  • Revenue: Tin Can Customs Targets N1.130tr, Declares 2024 Year of Stakeholders

    Revenue: Tin Can Customs Targets N1.130tr, Declares 2024 Year of Stakeholders

    Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi has disclosed that the command aims at collecting N1,130,768,051,851 as revenue for 2024 while declaring that the year is dedicated to stakeholders

    Nnadi who said this in Lagos at a press conference, expressed optimism in meeting the target with the cooperation of customs operatives and other stakeholders including importers, freight forwarders, haulage operators, the media and others.

    He said the command has been mandated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to engage all stakeholders in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and foster a culture of compliance that would lead to enhanced revenue collection and trade facilitation.

    Giving a breakdown on how the revenue target would be achieved, Comptroller Nnadi said the command is aiming to generate 4,332,444,643.22 daily collection; 21,662,223,216.16 weekly and 94,230,670,990.11 monthly to meet up with the target.

    He said the command started 2023 with enhanced recovery guidelines, mitigating the risks of non compliance, achieved automation of its bond seat and revamped the command’s dispute resolution committee

    Comptroller Nnadi added that under his watch,the command has supported moves to decongest port corridors through regular engagement with Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders in the logistics chain of the Lagos port corridor

    On capacity building, Nnadi said the command aligned with the 2023 theme of International Customs Day which was ” Nurturing the Next Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs” to evolve a sustainable succession plan for the NCS.

    While declaring 2024 as a year of the stakeholders in Tin Can Island Port, Nnadi lauded compliant importers, freight forwarders and their agents for contributing to the revenue collection strides of the command and urged all other port users emulate the virtue of compliance through sincere declaration and prompt duty payment.

    He said “In the area of trade facilitation, the Command continues to provide a conducive environment for trade through continuous engagement and collaboration with relevant stakeholders and regulatory agencies of Government.

    “The Command has had several meetings with stakeholders in 2023;

    Meeting with fast track beneficiaries in the Command, addressing their challenges and opportunities for growth.

    “Engagements with NPA and Terminal Operators on the need to decongest the port corridors for free flow of import laden containers.

    “Collaboration of the Command with terminal operators on schedule and modalities on the overtime clearance of cargoes in TCIP.

    The shipping lines in TCIP are constantly inundated on the need to guide their NICIS access as the incidence of fraudulent/double transmission of bill ladings has become too prevalent in recent times.

    “Regular meetings with compliant and high net worth stakeholders like Crown Flour, Promasidor Nig Ltd, Hurlag Nig ltd, BUA etc. The Command encourages their businesses and proffer avenues for improvements in areas they need help.

    “Additionally, the dispute settlement structure of the Command aligns with the provisions of the import duty mechanism outlined in paragraph (H) subparagraph (8) of the Import Guidelines, Procedure and Documentation Requirements which allows an importer to take delivery of his cargo in the case of persistent dispute after securing a bank bond, the total duties and taxes payable on the item being disputed” he said

    In the area of Enforcement and Anti-smuggling activities of the Command, there were a total of 96 Detentions and 47 seizures made in 2023. The seizures include; 1264 packages weighing 473.50kg of Colorado (Cannabis Indica )with a street value of =N=118,381,184

    concealed in various containers from 8 seizures, 10 sacks of used clothing and 5 used fridges with a DPV of =N=3,170,821in 1x40ft Container, DFSU 6858264. Other detentions are; 3028 pieces of matches, 435 Cartons of De Ruth Tomato Paste, Unregistered Pharmaceutical Products in 1x 40ft Containers, MRSU 5923970, MRKU 5534321 and MRSU 5923970 respectively. 7X40ft Containers containing Bulk Charcoal with a DPV of =N=24,769,161. Twelve (12) different Arms, Six (6) different pistols, Five Hundred (500) Ammunition of Different Caliber extracted from 1X40ft Container, CMAU 8834719. 58 Bags and 3 Bags of Used Shoes concealed in 1X40 ft TGBU 4466688 and 1X40 ft MEDU 7552832 respectively, 987 bales of used clothing extracted from 3 Containers, suspected concealment in 2X20 ft declared as gauze rolls, one (1) unit of Land Rover Discovery with Chassis number, SALCT2BG4FH527794, Suzuki Carry with Chassis number, MHYESL4152J115591, Mercedes Benz C300 WITH Chassis number, WDDGF8BB9AK093016S. In addition to the above, other detentions made include; supermarket items extracted from various containers, 32 packs of 50 pieces each of Toilet Paper, 531 cartons of pharmaceutical products and 80 cartons of beauty products.

    Seizure was also made of 615 sacks of Water Buffalo Horns, 2500 Cartons of frozen poultry with a DPV of =N=47,365,957, 3642 Bags of Basmati Rice of 20kg each, household goods, arms and ammunition and military wears concealed in 1X20 ft Container, TGHU 0510362. The total DPV of the seized goods and street value of the narcotics amounted to =N=3,160,972,083.50.

    Additionally, there were 50,297 containers with a breakdown of 15, 289 20ft containers, 34,55740ft containers and451 45ft containers used as means conveyance of goods through January to December, 2023 at Tincan Island Port. Also, there were 1,430 units of new vehicles and 4,342 units of used vehicles imported through the ports. In terms of revenue generation, the enforcement unit through painstaking efforts and interventions aided the Command through Demand Notices to the sum of =N=210,781,823.00.

    In terms of Export, the total of tonnage of goods exported through Tincan island Port for the year under review in Metric Tonnes was 623,694.7 MT with a total F.O.B. of =N=489,221,453,693. Nnadi described it as an impressive growth with a notable increase of 85.5% in tonnage and 101.9% increase in FOB Value when compared to the year, 2022.

    The products exported through the command in the year under review include;

    Agricultural Products like Cocoa Beans, cashew Nuts, Sesame seeds, Soya Beans, Hibiscus Flower, etc.

    Locally Manufactured Goods like Cosmetics, Hair Attachments, Indomie Noodles, Beverages, Cigarettes, and Insecticides.

    Mineral Resources such as Lithium Ore, Tin Ore, Fluorite Ore, Aluminium Ingots and Lead Ingots and others.

    Goods previously imported after the payment of 2.5% levy on the current value of the goods with government permission.Other various exports like Charcoal, Personal Effects, Items for Repair and Return.

    He acknowledged the critical role played by the other customs units and sister agencies like the Customs Intelligence Unit, the Valuation unit, Customs Strike force, Federal Operations Unit as well as interventions by sister regulatory agencies such as NDLEA, NAFDAC, DSS, SON, the Nigeria Police and others in making these seizures and detentions.

  • NDLEA Intercepts Largest Heroin Consignment, Arrests Syndicate

    NDLEA Intercepts Largest Heroin Consignment, Arrests Syndicate

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has successfully dismantled and arrested members of an organized criminal organization which specializes in trafficking heroin across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America in a 12-day well-coordinated operation leading to the seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

    NDLEA Director for Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said this was disclosed at a press conference by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) in Lagos on Tuesday 27th February ,2024.

    While explaining that the briefing is in line with the Agency’s policy of transparency in its renewed fight against drug traffickers, Marwa gave a chronological brief of how the operation leading to what is now the single largest seizure of heroin at the Lagos airport was successfully carried out.

    Marwa said “It started on February 10, 2024, when NDLEA operatives of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command intercepted a suspicious package at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal. The consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines. Each carton was stocked with three blocks of high-grade heroin. In total, we recovered 45 blocks of the illicit substance with a total weight of 49.70kg”.
    “After the discovery, we were methodical and meticulous in our investigations. We started with the arrest of the freight agent whose name is Olowolagba Wasiu Babatunde. It turned out that he was hired for clearing services by Mattpee Logistics, a company operated by one Mr. Kola resident in South Africa”.
    “Next, we conducted a follow up operation at the company’s warehouse in the Shogunle area of Oshodi, Lagos, and arrested the warehouse manager, whose name is Ajayi Imole Moses. Thereafter, we set up an ambush for the expected receiver of the consignment who was duly arrested when he showed up for collection. This receiver, whose name is Adinnu Felix Chinedu, confessed during interrogation, that he is the main distributor for a drug syndicate whose membership is spread across Nigeria”.
    “He admitted that he usually conveyed the consignment to a dedicated warehouse located in Ayobo. That place served as a workshop where he would dismantle the consignment and remove the drugs from the machines. Thereafter, he would wait for a list of various recipients to be forwarded to him from South Africa by the head of the criminal group.

    “Our operatives did due diligence by conducting a thorough search of the warehouse which led to the recovery of 56 similar cartons of the cutting machines that were used previously as modes of concealment to ferry heroin into Nigeria. At this point, it was clear that we are dealing with a syndicate that operates in other countries. By the time, we were done exploring various leads we had, we unravelled an organised criminal network that operates in South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria and parts of Europe and America”.

    “This syndicate has a wide network in Nigeria because the consignments we seized were marked with several codenames, showing that they belonged to different members of this organised criminal group. Furthermore, in our follow-up operation, we uncovered from the suspect a long list of receivers of illicit drugs. In the end, we were able to identify the kingpin of the syndicate here in Nigeria and his name is Reginald Peter Chidiebere. Our investigations showed that he owns the Golden Platinum Hotel and Suite, located at 16 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace.”

    The NDLEA boss said several days of surveillance on the hotel culminated in a raid operation on Monday, February 19 in which another drug mule, Igboanugo Chukwuebuka Thankgod, was found in possession of two parcels of 2.2kg heroin with codes similar to the ones found on the seized drug shipment, bringing the total seizure to 51.90 kilograms.

    “He readily confessed that he was invited by Mr. Reginald Peter Chidiebere to the hotel on Sunday, February 18, 2024. He was lodged in one of the rooms and was later summoned by the receptionist to meet a guest, from whom Reginald Peter Chidiebere had informed him over the phone to receive a package. This sequence of action was confirmed by a review of the CCTV at the hotel”.

    He further explained that pre-emptive actions so far taken against members of the syndicate include freezing a total of 107 bank accounts associated with 14 members of the cartel as well as N119,582,928.31 found in some of the already traced bank accounts.

    He added that the hotel and a mansion linked to the head of the syndicate in Nigeria, Reginald Peter Chidiebere and another mansion linked to the head of the syndicate in Mozambique, Festus Ibewuike located in Ago Palace area had already been marked for forfeiture to the Federal Government.

    He said the measure yielded further fruit on Thursday 22nd February when a female member of the syndicate and wife of Festus Ibewuike, Mrs. Confidence Ndidiamaka, Ibewuike who is one of those to collect part of the consignment from Adinnu Felix Chinedu, was arrested at Ago Palace area on last Thursday.

    “When they were brought face to face, he (Adinnu Felix Chinedu) immediately identified her as one of the members of the criminal syndicate who had received similar packages of heroin with the syndicate’s logo from him on two different occasions. Though she denied knowing Adinnu or receiving anything from him before, investigation later revealed how her husband identified as Festus Ibewuike who is a top kingpin and currently residing in Mozambique used to send drug consignments to her through Adinnu Felix Chinedu”.

    “With pictorial evidence of different parcels with different codes and using other methodologies, we were able to confirm several instructions from her husband to her regarding illicit drug shipments already collected before. A search was promptly conducted in their residence located at the Ago Palace area, Festac Town where a Toyota Venza car was recovered as well as several documents including, bank and property documents belonging to Festus Ibewuike.Their mansion in Ago Palace area has also been marked for forfeiture to the Federal Government”.

    As part of efforts to ensure all those involved are brought to book, Marwa assured that NDLEA has shared comprehensive intelligence with our South African counterparts for necessary action regarding the other members of the group living in that country.”

    He said “there is a parallel between this seizure and the September 18, 2022 seizure of 2,139.5kg cocaine in an Ikorodu warehouse. That was the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of NDLEA. This present bust is the largest single heroin seizure at the MMIA so far.”

    While commending the synergy and support the NDLEA enjoys from other stakeholders like Customs, the military, Immigration, Police, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, NAFDAC, Aviation Security (AVSEC) and the media as well as international partners, Marwa said the Agency won’t relent in its offensive action targeting drug barons and their networks.

    “In our renewed fight against drug trafficking, our offensive action is specifically targeting drug barons to disrupt distribution networks and uproot the drug pipelines in the country. To this end, we have arrested 48 barons in three years, 15 of whom are already serving jail terms while the rest are facing trials in court. This should serve as a warning to others that there is no hiding place in Nigeria for anyone involved in the illicit drug trade”

    “NDLEA is resolved to end the reign of drug barons and disconnect Nigeria from the global drug trafficking network. We have maintained a consistently strong performance, every week. With this heroin bust, we are sending a warning again to drug traffickers within and outside the county that if they fail to desist from the illicit drug trade, the long arm of the law will catch up with them.” he said.

  • NDLEA launches massive raids in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, seizes 44,948kg drugs, 11 vehicles

    NDLEA launches massive raids in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, seizes 44,948kg drugs, 11 vehicles

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have launched massive raids across Lagos, Edo and Ondo state leading to the seizure of over 44,948.1 kilograms (44.9 tonnes) of illicit drugs and arrests of eight suspects as well as the seizure of 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels.

    While a total of 7, 687.8kg of cannabis was destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state with another 670kg evacuated, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, no less than 14,310.8625kg of same psychoactive substance was razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State on Tuesday 19th March, where five suspects including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45; Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44, were arrested.

    This was contained in a weekly press release issued in Abuja by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA”s Director of Media and Advocacy

    The release stated that in another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest on Thursday 21st March, over 6,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36;
    Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested. In the same vein, 5,000kg of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West LGA by NDLEA operatives with support from the military on Friday 22nd March.

    In Lagos, a well-coordinated operation on Wednesday 20th March led to the seizure of 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.

    The recovered vehicles include:
    Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV.

    In another raid at Ago Palace way area of the state on Friday 22nd March, a suspect, Miracle Obi was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection. Another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier on Tuesday 19th March nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

    While 58kg cannabis was recovered at Jagindi village, Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State on Friday 22nd March, Abdulqadir Muhammad, 34, was arrested with 45 kilograms of same substance by NDLEA operatives along Kaduna- Zaria expressway. In Borno state, Salisu Yusuf, 20, was nabbed with 30kg Arizona, a strain of cannabis at Njimtilo checkpoint on Saturday 23rd March, while another suspect, Rabiu Husseini, 27, was arrested with 34kg cannabis along Gwagwalada/Abuja highway on his way from Lagos to Katsina state on Wednesday 21st March. The following day, 22nd March, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gashua-Baymari road, Busari LGA, Yobe state arrested Haladu Hassan with 160 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg.

    In Kano state, a syndicate dealing in cocaine and heroin was successfully dismantled with the arrest of 42-year-old Onyeka Uba at Sabon Gari area of Kano where 1.805 kilograms and 7grams of the illicit substances were recovered from him on Monday 18th March. Another suspect, Ubale Sani, 49, was also arrested with 51.5kg cannabis at the Chiromawa area of Kano.

    Operatives of a special operation unit of NDLEA also disrupted criminal activities of another cocaine syndicate in Abuja at the weekend with the arrest of three leaders of the group. While Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu, 41, and Okoro Chigozie Christian, 35, were arrested

    On Friday 22nd March at Paint House Hotel, Umar Garba Benna Street, 21 Road, First Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja with 718 grams of cocaine, a follow up operation at the residence of Okoro Chigozie at House 30, 69B Road 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, led to the recovery of 19 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 9.823kg and monetary exhibits: N545,500 and $250, as well as property documents. Two vehicles: Toyota Camry 2007 marked BWR 94 BM and Toyota Camry 2012 marked RBC 154 BS were also recovered from them.

    Another follow up operation to the residence of Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu at 49 Mercy Orjiakor street, Becky Estate 11, Karu, Nasarawa state on Saturday 23rd March also led to the recovery of various quantities of Arizona and methamphetamine while his girlfriend and accomplice, Ifemenam Oge was arrested.

    With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country
    continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Government Day Secondary School, Damaturu, Yobe; Government Secondary School, Afaha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom; Total Child School, Awka, Anambra and Celestial Church of Christ High School Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state, among others.

    While commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and FCT Commands as well as the Special Operations unit of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and work places.

  • NDLEA Stops Lady ,35, From Exporting Illicit Drugs Concealed in Salad, Dried Vegetables

    NDLEA Stops Lady ,35, From Exporting Illicit Drugs Concealed in Salad, Dried Vegetables

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.70 kilograms concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos state.

    According to Babafemi,NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Security had on Thursday 28th March intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of terminal 11 of the MMIA.

    He added “preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country” the release said.

    Two suspects: Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were on Tuesday 26th March arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly. Attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5 million cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.

    In Bayelsa, the bid by three suspects: Ebuka Eze, 31; Ugochukwu Okoro, 44; and Kingsley Uzim, 27, to smuggle opioids including codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam weighing a total of 73.425 kilograms to the creeks in Southern Ijaw area of the state was thwarted on Wednesday 27th March by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa where Ebuka and Ugochukwu were arrested while Uzim was nabbed at Amasoma in a follow up operation.

    The drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to the jetty in a tricycle.
    While two suspects: Eniola Muyideen and Bankole Shuaib were arrested with 137 blocks of cannabis weighing 71kg during a raid at Orile Imo, Ogun state on Friday 29th March.

    NDLEA operatives in Taraba recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, 33, in Lankaviri village, and another suspect, Apaji Vincent, 29, arrested in Wukari on Thursday 28th March with 131kg cannabis sativa.

    In Abia state, Nwachukwuu Chinedu, 28, was arrested on Friday 29th March at Akara Ahuba, Isikwuato LGA by NDLEA officers. Recovered from him include 46.65kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit.

    At least, 127.5kg cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba road, Idoani area of Ose LGA, Ondo State, while a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in Sabon Gari area of Kano. The owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano road, Bakura Goni was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos on Tuesday 26th March in a follow up operation and flown to Kano to face charges.

    The consignment consisting of cannabis and tramadol weighing 73.8kg was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano.
    While 278kg of cannabis going to Idoani in Ondo state was recovered during a raid at Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State, not less than 3,065.255kg of the same psychoactive substance was razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in Igueben area of the state where three suspects: James Thankgod; Wisdom James and Akpa Festus were arrested on Thursday 28th March.

    In the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures in the past week. These include: Sensitisation lectures for students of Federal University of Technology, Ihiagwa, Owerri, Imo; students and teachers of Community Secondary School, Eyo-Abasi, Oron, Akwa Ibom; students and teachers of Oke Iragbiji Grammar School, Osun; commercial motorcycle riders in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state; commercial motorcycle riders at Ankpa, Kogi state and Muslim faithful at Aliade Central Mosque, Aliade, Benue state.

    While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.

     

     

  • NDLEA Nabs Paris-bound Businessman For Ingesting 111 Wraps of Cocaine

    NDLEA Nabs Paris-bound Businessman For Ingesting 111 Wraps of Cocaine

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 48-year-old Paris, France-bound businessman, Emmanuel Okechuku Orjinze for ingesting 111 wraps of cocaine, which he excreted after days of observation in the agency’s custody following his arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

    This was contained in a weekly press release by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.

    According to Babafemi, Okechukwu who also claims he is a professional footballer in Europe was arrested on Tuesday 21st May during the outward clearance of Airfrance flight AF 878 from Abuja to Paris, France. After a body scan confirmed he ingested illicit drugs, he was taken into custody where he excreted a total of 111 pellets of cocaine that weighed 1.603 kilograms over a period of three days. The suspect claimed he does business in the maritime sector while still scouting for any European football club to engage him.

    In the same vein, NDLEA officers operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have dismantled another drug trafficking syndicate at the airport. This followed the arrest of four members of the network and the seizure of a total of 8kg of methamphetamine and 7.60kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis imported from South Africa.

    The lid was blown off the syndicate when an official within the airport system was intercepted with a backpack and a bag at the departure hall of Terminal 1 of the airport by NDLEA officers with the support of Aviation Security officers on Tuesday 21st May 2024. A search of the bags led to the discovery of the illicit substances.

    A swift follow-up operation at Ajao Estate area of Lagos led to the arrest of two other members of the syndicate: Chris Nwadozie and Chinedu Nwaosu. Further investigation led to the arrest of another member of the cartel working within the airport system on Saturday 25th May.

    In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport have arrested a freight agent, Sonubi Mariam Abiodun over her attempt to cargo 8 parcels of cocaine weighing 2kg concealed in three out of six paint buckets containing shea butter packaged for export to the United Kingdom on Wednesday 22nd May.

    In another part of Lagos, precisely at Igbo Elerin in Ojo local government area, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 21st May arrested a suspect, Odumegwu Obijofor producing and distributing skuchies, a mixture of black currant and illicit drugs. No fewer than 2,480 litres of the New Psychoactive Substance, NPS, were recovered from his clandestine factory when he was arrested.

    In Cross River state, while Ogar Emmanuel, was arrested with 2.5kg of cannabis at Ukpada Utugwan village, 29 sacks of the same substance weighing 290kg were recovered from the warehouse of another suspect, Usani Ikpi, who is currently at large. Three suspects: Sa’adu Sule, 23; Mukhtar Nura, 23; and Hamza Nura, 18, were nabbed at Jabiri Funtua, Katsina state on Friday 24th May with 129 blocks of cannabis weighing 70kg coming from Ogere, Ogun state.

    No fewer than five suspects including: Ezekiel Munda, 30; and Sule Mustapha, 21, were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Thursday 23rd May during raids at Karu Abattoir, Jikwoyi and Tora Bora hill area of FCT, Abuja, where 95.01kg of cannabis and different quantities of opioids were recovered from them.

    In Edo state, operatives arrested a physically challenged notorious drug dealer, Zekere Sufianu, 45, at Auchi town on Wednesday 22nd May. At the time of his arrest, he was found with 751 grams of Loud, 178 grams of tramadol and pills of swinol.

    In like manner, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Baptist Grammar School, Iresi, Osun; students and teachers of Anwar-Ul-Islam Grammar School, Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Shalom Secondary School, Saminaka, Kaduna; students of Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, Gombe; students of Pakoto Senior High School, Ifo, Ogun state; students of Nwafor-Orizu Demonstration Secondary School, Awka, Anambra and muslim faithful at Central Mosque, Abudu, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state.

    While commending the officers and men of the NAIA, MMIA, FCT, Lagos, Cross River, Katsina, and Edo Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.

  • NDLEA Arrests 4 Intending Pilgrims with Cocaine Consignments in Lagos

    NDLEA Arrests 4 Intending Pilgrims with Cocaine Consignments in Lagos

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have raided Emerald Hotel, Ladipo area of Oshodi, Lagos state where some intending pilgrims to the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia were lodged and caught in the act of ingesting wraps of cocaine ahead of their flight to the holy land on Wednesday 5th June 2024.

    This was contained in a press release issued by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

    According to Babafemi,those arrested during the intelligence-led operation include: Usman Kamorudeen, 31; Olasunkanmi Owolabi, 46; Fatai Yekini, 38; and a lady, Ayinla Kemi, 34. The four suspects were lodged in two rooms in the hotel where they had prepared 200 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.20 kilograms to swallow when NDLEA officers stormed their rooms.

    One hundred wraps of the Class A substance were recovered from each of the two rooms bringing the total seizure to 200 wraps. Two suspects were to swallow 100 wraps each.

    Commending the Commander, officers and men of the Lagos state Command of NDLEA, which conducted the operation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the agency will continue to spread its dragnet to track, trace and apprehend criminal elements who may want to hide under pilgrimage to carry out their nefarious activities capable of denting the image of the country

     

  • NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron in Imo Village Mansion, Recovers Gun, Cartridges

    NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron in Imo Village Mansion, Recovers Gun, Cartridges

    major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ has been taken down by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, following the arrest of the leader of the syndicate, 42-year-old Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu and his associate in his mansion tucked in his Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.

    Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman stated this in a press release issued on Tuesday

    According to Babafemi, the cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers state became a target of the Agency following intelligence indicating it is responsible for the distribution of substantial quantity of methamphetamine in South East, South South and other parts of the country.

    After weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the Agency on Friday 5th July 2024, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state where he was caught with a member of his cartel, Kenneth Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges recovered.

    Exhibits recovered from the house include: 419.99 grams of methamphetamine; 750 grams of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges.

    The operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grams of meth.Another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Pedro Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba LGA, Imo state, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items. While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government.

    Mbonu had escaped from South Africa where he lived for years and mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine after he came under investigation for drug dealings. Upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities.

    Reacting to the successful taking down of the meth syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operation, while he stated that the manner the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there’s no hiding place for them in any part of the country.