The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an ex-convict, Onyeka Madukolu, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, for importing 5.90 kilograms of cocaine.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in cans of deodorants and ladies’ lip gloss and were imported into Nigeria.
He said that the suspect was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Ethiopia for drug trafficking offences and released from prison in 2020.
He added that he was again arrested on Friday at the Lagos Airport on his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
He also added that a search of his luggage revealed he had concealed 5.90kg cocaine inside cans of deodorants and female lip gloss.
“During preliminary interview, he claimed to have gone into the drug business to raise fresh capital to start a legitimate business after his release from Ethiopian prison in 2020.
“The father of two kids, one each from a Nigerian woman and a Brazilian lady, said he was into motor spare parts business before going into the criminal trade.
“The 44-year old indigene of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra, said he was expecting to be paid N2 million on successful delivery of the illicit drug in Nigeria,” he said.
https://twitter.com/FemiBabafemi/status/1571480862855667713
NDLEA intercepts 26,600 bottles of psychoactive substance ‘Akuskura’ in Kano, arrests producer
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged notable producer of new psychoactive substance, popularly called Akuskura with 26,600 bottles of the illicit substances.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that the suspect was arrested on Sept. 13.
Babafemi said the suspect, Qasim Ademola, was arrested by anti-narcotic officers with the Akuskura substances meant for distribution across Northern states.
He said that the consignment was seized on Sept.15 along Zaria-Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, Kano.
He added that the 39-year old proprietor from Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State and three of his distributors, were arrested in follow-up operations.
In another development, NDLEA operatives intercepted a drug trafficker, Chukwu Kingsley on his way to Rome, Italy on an Asky Airline Flight.
Babafemi said that a search on his luggage showed he had concealed among food condiments 11,460 tablets of tramadol 225mg with a gross weight of 5.7kg and 39 bottles of Codeine Syrup.
He said that the 49-year old suspect was a known haulage agent who hailed from Oru West Local Government Area of Imo.
Also at the Lagos airport, a freight agent, Lawal Adeyemi, was arrested same day for attempting to export some sachets of lexotan, among other non-controlled drugs to Liberia.
Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives however, equally seized 593.90 kilograms of khat leaf at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) import shed of the airport on Sept. 15.
This he said, was after a joint examination of the cargo by a combined team of security agencies.
Babafemi said the Chairman, NDLEA, retired, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the command and their counterparts in Lagos and Kano for their vigilance and resilience.
Marwa charged them and others across the country, to remain focussed as they daily discharge their responsibilities.
NDLEA impounds 18 pump action guns, 2,300 cartridges in Kogi
NDLEA impounded a Peugeot J5 vehicle loaded with 18 pieces of pump action rifles and 1,300 cartridges in Kogi on Saturday.
The vehicle took off from Onitsha in Anambra and was heading to Zaria in Kaduna State when it was intercepted on the Okene-Abuja Highway.
NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi stated on Sunday in Abuja that two suspects found in the vehicle, Chukwudi Aronu, 51, and Shuaibu Gambo, 23, were arrested.
He added that also on Saturday, one Anthony Agada, 37, conveying 1,000 ammunition cartridges to Abuja from Onitsha was nabbed in a bus.
He stated also that 1,404 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,040 ampoules of pentazocine injection were seized from another vehicle which also took off from Onitsha and was heading to Sokoto.
Babafemi added that the arranged receiver of the drugs, Stanley Raymond, 39, was arrested in Sokoto, while the sender, Shadrack Ifediora, 46, was simultaneously arrested in Onitsha.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, a drug dealer, Mohammed Dalhatu aka Dawa, was arrested at Sabon Gari, Zaria with eight bags of Indian hemp weighing 67kg.
Another suspect, Maikudi Hassan, was arrested at Gubuci village in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State also with five bags of Indian hemp weighing 54.2kg.
“On Thursday Sept. 15, operatives also arrested Mary Ugwu and Hawwa Idi, at Anchau town in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State with 721 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 37,000 tablets of Exol-5 and nine ampoules of diazepam injection as well as 6.8kg of rubber solution.
“In Edo, NDLEA recovered 285kg of Indian hemp in two raids at Okpuje, Owan West Local Government Area, on Friday Sept. 16.
“In Lagos, 972.5kg of Indian hemp was recovered from an electronics shop at Alaba Market and one of the suspects, Mrs Ebere Aja, 38, was arrested.
“Not less than 335.1kg of Indian hemp was also seized in a raid at Kwanar Kundum area of Bauchi town, where two suspects, Usman Garba and Najib Ibrahim, were arrested,’’ Babafemi stated.
Babafemi quoted NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as directing that the arms and ammunition impounded in Kogi be hand over to the police for further investigation.