NDLEA intercepts explosives, Europe-bound illicit drugs

•Arrests Cameroonian in Nigerian military uniform

Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a consignment of 32 pieces of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), being taken to bandits’ camp in Niger State.

The interception followed intensified operations at drug joints and routes nationwide ahead of May 29, inauguration day.

Consequently, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), has ordered the immediate transfer of a suspect, Musa Muhammadu, who was caught with the explosives along Wawa road, Kainji, Niger State to the military.

Spokesperson for the Agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, yesterday, said the operation came barely a week after NDLEA operatives at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc  export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),  Ikeja, Lagos, intercepted a consignment of 30.10kg methamphetamine going to London, United Kingdom (UK).

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is derived from amphetamine. It can be smoked, injected, snorted, or ingested orally.

According to him, another shipment containing 379 grammes of the same illicit substance concealed in false bottom of six black soap containers, packed in a carton containing local hand fans, heading to Cyprus in Europe, has been recovered at a courier company in Lagos, by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), in the Agency.

In Adamawa State, operatives on stop and search patrol along Michika- Bazza road on Friday, May 26, arrested a Cameroonian, Ndawai Emma Ngalou with a pair of Nigerian Army camouflage uniform bearing Sunday U and two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards belonging to Turaki Mohammed and Ekene Izuegunam.

Balkisu and Kauna

Two ladies: Bilkisu Yusuf, 33, and Kauna Katsina, 25, were on Monday May 22 arrested in Ningi town, Bauchi state with 11,080 pills of tramadol, while Uche Shadrach, 22, was arrested with 20,480 pills of same pharmaceutical opioid on Wednesday, May 24, along Okene-Lokoja highway, Kogi State, on his way from Onitsha, Anambra State to Minna, Niger State.

Similarly, two suspects: Surajo Adamu and Muhammad Ali were arrested on Friday, May 26, with 379,200 tablets of Diazepam in Alimosho area of Lagos, while the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Agency took custody of 22 cartons of tramadol 225mg weighing 1,144.30kg and 12 cartons of tramadol 120mg with a total weight of 320kg, all containing 2, 317,400 pills transferred to the Agency by the Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Thursday, May 25.

In Delta State, NDLEA operatives supported by men drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Police on Wednesday, May 24, raided the notorious Abbi town, Ndokwa West Local Council where three suspects: Eunice Eneh, 52; Animan Ifeoma, 26, and Chuks Webema Dennis, 35, were arrested with a total of 343.9kg Cannabis recovered from them.

A similar mop up operation in Bayelsa has led to the arrest of a wanted suspect, Ozoemena Egbochue, 38, at the Swali market in Yenagoa on Monday, May 22, following the earlier arrest of his sales boy, Morgan Eredeowei, with 11,748 pills of tramadol and diazepam.

While commending the officers and men of the Agency across all Commands nationwide for their professionalism and synergy with other law enforcement agencies in the mop-up operation, Marwa urged them to sustain the offensive action even after today, Monday, May 29, handover ceremonies.