NDLEA arrests 11 suspects, intercepts drug consignments in wooden statue, imported vehicle
09 January 2023 |
3:36 am
Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos states.
•Seizes 3,975kgs skunk, 58,200 tramadol pills in Kaduna, Kano, Imo, Lagos raids
Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos states.
The operatives also thwarted attempts by elements of organised criminal groups to use various disingenuous modes of concealment to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja and Tincan seaport in Lagos.
Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, said about 37.5 kilogrammes of such illicit consignments were intercepted in the past week.
According to him, a freight agent, Ogunsina Damilare, was arrested at the Lagos airport, on Friday, January 6, following a bid to export 1.5 kilogrammes of skunk hidden in foodstuffs to Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) through Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed of the MMIA.
Also, a similar attempt to ship 11.5kgs of same substance to the United Kingdom, he said, was frustrated when the consignment concealed in a giant wooden sculpture was intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos. Curiously, the latter emanated from Ghana with London as the destination.
He said: “At the Tincan port in Lagos, a shipment of 24.5kilogrammes Cannabis indica to Nigeria from Montreal, Canada, was intercepted by operatives while an N8 million bribe offered NDLEA officers by the importer has been secured in an account for the prosecution of the case.
“While the importer, Cedrick Maduweke is still at large, one of his accomplices, Steve Isioma Adigwe, has been arrested. The consignment was hidden in a used Toyota Sienna vehicle that arrived at the port along with three other cars in a container marked MSMU 5082733.
“A total of 3, 672 kilogrammes of Cannabis sativa were recovered from two locations and five suspects arrested in Kaduna during separate raid operations. Arrested at a warehouse at Rido village on Wednesday, January 3, include: Edward Emmanuel, 28; and Miracle Madu, with 298 bags of Cannabis sativa weighing 3,576kgs.
“Investigations revealed that the consignment was moved from a southern state to Kaduna in a petroleum product bearing truck. Also, two other suspects: Sunday Bassey, 29, and Jessica Daniel, 14, were nabbed with 96kgs of same substance at Gonin Gora area of the state, while Sanusi Isah, 30, was arrested on Saturday, January 7, at Giwa area with over 12,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg and Diazepam.
“In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, January 7, intercepted Kabiru Abdulhamid, 40, with 119 blocks of Cannabis sativa weighing 73kgs at Semugu area, while a total of 28,400 tablets of tramadol and over 230kgs of Cannabis sativa were seized in raid operations in Festac town and Lagos Island areas of Lagos State.
“Some of the suspects arrested in the Lagos raids include: Rukayyat Eshinlokun; Pelumi Alejo and Banna Maina, who specialises in distribution of illicit drugs disguised as a dispatch rider.
“In Imo State, a suspect, Amechi Moses was arrested in a follow up operation on Friday, January 6, following the interception of 29, 800 tablets of tramadol 225mg in a commercial bus along Owerri – Onitsha road going to Aba in Abia State.”
MEANWHILE, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), has commended the officers and men of Tincan, MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Imo Commands for the arrests and seizures.
He charged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels in Nigeria while balancing their efforts on supply reduction with drug demand reduction activities.
26 mins ago
Notable personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Thursday, felicitated with the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, who clocked 60 years.
36 mins ago
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and anti-corruption agencies to probe allegations
39 mins ago
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its clampdown on drug trafficking with a series of operations across Nigeria, leading to multiple arrests and seizures of illicit substances.
39 mins ago
The Nigerian Army has sustained its crackdown on economic saboteurs in the Niger Delta, recovering over 80,000 litres of stolen diesel during recent operations.
43 mins ago
Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has said Nigeria needs investment of about $180 million to bridge the financing gap in the agricultural sector. The Executive Secretary of NAFD, Muhammed Abu Ibrahim,
45 mins ago
The Lagos State branch of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) yesterday marked 1,000 days since the gruesome murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, demanding justice and decrying the slow pace of the case.
1 hour ago
To ease the burden of fuel costs as the year winds up, Dangote Refinery has announced a reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, by N20 from N990 per litre to N970.
1 hour ago
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has disclosed that the country’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and adopt market-based pricing for foreign exchange has saved the nation an estimated $20 billion.
1 hour ago
Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, has identified lack of reliable and affordable power, access to finance, unreliable infrastructure, regulatory inefficiencies and limited inclusivity
1 hour ago
A group, under the aegis of Face of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN), has faulted a statement by an elder statesman, Olabode George, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, should not contest the 2027 general elections.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.