The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the dismantling of an international drug syndicate operating across Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand.
In a statement on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency disclosed the arrest of five cartel members in a two-week operation in Lagos, Abia, and Anambra states.
He said the operation followed the seizure of illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi explained that the unraveling of the drug cartel began on April 20th when four large suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The NDLEA’S spokespsrson stated that after close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter, was arrested on April 24th when he arrived to pick up two suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by Thailand-based syndicate member Obum Michael.
The four suitcases, he said, contained a total of 17.6 kilograms of Loud and drug candies, concealed in false bottoms.
Babafemi noted that another syndicate member, Chiwendu Uche Ugbe, whose husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe, based in South Africa, sent some of the consignments, was arrested in Anambra state on April 27th while attempting to collect drug parcels.
Two other suspects, Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel, were arrested in Lagos on April 29th.
He disclosed that following these arrests, an operation in Abia state led to the arrest of Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe, who was attempting to pick up parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony, also operating from South Africa.
Also, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker on the Abuja-Abaji highway on May 1st, discovering 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment. The consignment, loaded in Ondo state, was meant for delivery in Abuja.
Four suspects, Efe Abel Mikel, Ebigide Cyril, Ejechi Monday, and Friday Benson Chukwudi, have been arrested in connection with the seizure.
“While two suspects: Aminu Umar, 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their house at Unguwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state on Monday 29th April, Bashir Umar, 35, was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano on Friday 3rd May with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.
“In Osun state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 1st May arrested an ex-convict, 51-year-old Suleiman Usman who is currently facing trial for another drug offence at the Federal High Court Osogbo. At the time of his latest arrest at Okinni town, Suleiman was found in possession of 4.4grams of Cocaine, 28.5kg of cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of rophynol weighing 6.2grams and 812 pills of tramadol.
“The following day, Thursday 2nd May, NDLEA operatives at Agbara checkpoint, Seme border, Badagry Lagos intercepted a Toyota camry car marked KJA 825 FT conveying 113 jumbo parcels of cannabis with a total weight of 64kg. The driver, Charles Amoni, 45, was promptly arrested.
“In Bauchi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on Monday 29th April arrested Clement Chukwuka, 39, with 595 bottles of codeine; 38,260 pills of opioids such as tramadol, rohypnol and diazepam, while another suspect, Friday Ibochi was nabbed at NDLEA check point, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue state onTuesday 30th April with 66 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg. In the same vein, 42-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley was arrested with 12kg of same substance at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
“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 Ekimogun Community Grammar School, Bolorunduro, Ondo East LGA, Ondo state; students of Lafenwa High School (Senior), Abeokuta, Ogun state; students of Sky Brain International School, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state; intending Muslim pilgrims on dangers of illicit drug trafficking, Katsina state and WADA advocacy visit to Olobaoke of Oba Oke land, Oba Adam Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf and his chiefs, Osun state as well as WADA advocacy visit to Lagos state First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
“While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, FCT, Kano, Kaduna, Osun, Seme, Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Benue 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,” Babafemi said.
