NDLEA crackdown on int’l drug ring, arrest five, seizes parcels

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cracked down on an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa, and Thailand.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Babafemi said five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence-led operation in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

“The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa,” Babafemi said.

“After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday 24th April 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.”

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

He stated that the operation then spread across several Nigerian states, with officers arresting one Mrs Chiwendu Uche Ugbe in Anambra after her husband, Aloytus, based in South Africa, sent her drug parcels.

“NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday, April 27th, while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband,” Babafemi said.

“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 29th. 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.”

In a separate operation, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG with cannabis hidden inside a gas tanker along the Abuja-Abaji highway.

He added that, upon a thorough search, officials discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.

The consignment, according to Babafemi, was loaded into the tanker in Ondo State and meant to be delivered to 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 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.