A multimillion naira mansion used as clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine located at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate, Lekki area of Lagos has been seized following conviction of drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi, by a Lagos court.

This was made known in a statement by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, yesterday in Abuja.

The statement notes that Okenwa was arrested alongside his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah on 30th July 2022 and subsequently arraigned on four counts in charge number FHC/L/527C/2022 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The duo pleaded guilty on 17th July, 2023, were convicted and sentenced to four and three years imprisonment each with an option of fine of four million (N4,000,000) naira and three million (N3,000,000) naira respectively in addition to community service for four and three weeks each.

To further deny him from enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos which initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on 6th December before the final forfeiture on 7th December 2023.

In addition to the house, his vehicle marked EKY 496 DJ was equally forfeited to the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, a 75 year old grandmother, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, has been arrested in Oshodi area of Lagos state with quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup.

She claimed that her son, Segun who is now at large supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed.

In Imo, operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha expressway on Thursday 14th December intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287kg.

The shipment coming from Lagos was concealed in cellophane condoms, and heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, has already been arrested.

In another development, no fewer than 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kg were recovered from the ceiling of a dealer, Ibrahim Yahaya, 35, when his house was raided in the Tudun Kofa area of Lafia, Nasarawa State on Friday 15th December, he was also arrested.

over 1.5 million pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol were intercepted in a cargo going to South Africa by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

Two suspects, Bada Olanrewaju Akorede, and Amusan Olufela Sharafadeen have so far been taken into custody in connection with the consignment, which consists: 1,050,000 pills of tramadol of 225mg and 510,000 tablets of rohypnol.

In the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), 1, 496 bottles of codeine syrup were intercepted at A.Y.A bus stop while a suspect, Ozioma Enoja, 31, was arrested in a follow up operation.

In the same vein, a consignment of 400 bottles of the same opioid coming from Port Harcourt, Rivers state to the FCT, was also seized along Abaji-Abuja highway on Saturday 16th December. A suspect, Bala Ishaq was arrested during a follow up operation at Zuba motor park.

17 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 195.8kg stored in a bush at Gbanke village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, (LGA), Edo state, were recovered by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 13th December.

Anti-narcotic officers in Ogun state have also intercepted two suspects; Edun Olowokou and Tunde Elijah, at Alamutu roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of same psychoactive substance weighing 279kg.

Similar raids and arrests have also been carried out in Borno, Zamfara and Cross River states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba-Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to intensify the offensive action tempo against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches while maintaining an equal balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.