NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Businessman With Cocaine, Seizes N3.6bn Drugs in Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Onyebuchi, with 1.55 kilogrammes of cocaine allegedly concealed in the walls and railings of his luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The suspect, a marble dealer in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.
The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, adding that a search of the suspect’s check-in luggage revealed 1.55kg of cocaine factory-fitted into the walls and railings.
Babafemi said the suspect confessed to selling his marble business and other assets to raise N23 million to purchase the consignment, which he allegedly intended to sell in India for up to N100 million.
The agency said Onyebuchi remained in custody and would be prosecuted.
In a separate operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided a warehouse located within a residential compound on Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota.
The operation, conducted between August 7 and 8, led to the recovery of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at more than N2.6 billion.
Similarly, operatives raided the residence of a suspected drug kingpin, 55-year-old Shoremi Kayode, at Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, on August 14.
The agency said 324kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value of N972 million, was recovered from the residence. Two vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Corolla, were also seized.
The NDLEA also reported significant arrests and drug seizures in Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Plateau, Kano and Edo states.
In Kwara State, operatives arrested 50-year-old Abubakar Adamu and 30-year-old Bilyaminu Nuhu at Kam Wire area of Ilorin on August 13. The suspects were allegedly found with 55.96kg of skunk concealed in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.
In Oyo State, two suspects, Abdulfatai Oyelaran, 70, and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on August 12. The agency said 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives intercepted Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway on August 13.
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According to the agency, the suspects were found with 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.
Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale-Ozoro Expressway on August 12, with 1,244 cartridges and N8 million in cash, the agency said.
In Plateau State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Corolla along the Riyom-Jos Road and recovered 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol. A suspect, Kasum Sherif, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Kano State also recorded major seizures, with six suspects arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on August 10.
The suspects were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.
The agency said operatives recovered 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other opioids, alongside 360 grammes of cocaine, 99.8 grammes of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7kg of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area on August 14, recovering 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.
Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Edo State, the agency said 4,628.9775kg of skunk was destroyed following the raid of two cannabis farms covering 1.851591 hectares in the Ugboku/Igbanke forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested at one of the farms during the August 12 operation.
Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on August 14. The agency said 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grammes of methamphetamine were recovered from him.
Beyond drug supply reduction operations, the NDLEA said its War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaign continued across the country during the week.
The agency said sensitisation lectures were delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School in Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos State.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended personnel of the agency’s commands in Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa also commended NDLEA personnel nationwide for sustaining what he described as a balanced approach combining drug supply reduction with demand reduction efforts.
By PRNigeria
