NDLEA arrests five members of int’l drug syndicate, seizes consignments

•Intercepts 4,752kg cannabis concealed in gas tanker in Abuja
•Nabs ex-convict with assorted illicit drugs in Osun

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said five members of the cartel were arrested in the two-week intelligence-led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

According to him, the unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday, April 20, when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday, April 24, after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases
containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand-based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.

The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contained a total of 17.6 kilogrammes of Loud and drug candies.

Another member of the syndicate, Mrs Chinwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africa-based husband, Aloysius Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments to, was traced to Anambra State where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday, April 27, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.

Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel, were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday, April 29.

Their arrest led to another operation in Abia State where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on stop and search operation along Abuja-Abaji highway on Wednesday, May 1, intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG and upon a thorough search discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.

The consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo State and meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution.

Four suspects: Efe Abel Mikel, 39; Ebigide Cyril, 29; Ejechi Monday, 41; and Friday Benson Chukwudi, 39, have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

While two suspects: Aminu Umar, 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilogrammes 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, May 3, with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Osun State, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, May 1, 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 4.4 grammes of Cocaine, 28.5kg of Cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of phenol weighing 6.2 grammes and 812 pills of tramadol.

The following day, Thursday, May 2, 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 immediately arrested.

In Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on Monday, April 29, 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 checkpoint, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue State on Tuesday, April 30, 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.

Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, FCT, Kano, Kaduna, Osun, Seme, Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Benue Commands for their outstanding feats in the past week.

He equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.