NDLEA nabs pregnant woman, 27 others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a pregnant woman, a nursing mother and a 200-level university student for drug abuse and peddling.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said the suspects were among 28 persons arrested with 9,437.6 kilograms of cannabis and 138,053 tablets of pharmaceutical opioids among others by operatives of NDLEA.

He said the suspects were arrested during interdiction operations across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

He named the states as Yobe, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos and the FCT, Abuja.

“In the FCT, operatives on Saturday Oct. 15 stormed a village known as Chukuku, which is about 10 kilometers from Gwagwalada where they raided a large cannabis warehouse.

“A total of 510 jumbo bags of the illicit substance weighing 5, 640kgs were recovered from the store and a nursing mother in charge, Sa’adatu Abdullahi, 35, was arrested.

“In Yobe, while operatives intercepted 48kgs of cannabis in Buni Yadi, they also raided a location in Potiskum where they recovered 56 blocks (31kgs).

“Two suspects were arrested in connection to the seized drugs namely: Mohammed Mamuda and a married pregnant woman, Hauwa Haruna,” he said.

Babafemi said at least 99 bags of cannabis and three bags of its seeds weighing 1,286kgs, were seized on Oct. 13. when operatives raided a location in Ogbese area of Ondo State.

He said another raid at Umukpe forest in Uhunmonde council area of Edo led to the seizure of 410kgs of the same substance in addition to a motorcycle, two dane guns and the arrest of two suspects.

He said the two suspects were Numga Anim, 30, and Friday Ebije, 50, adding that not less than 50 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 623kgs were also recovered at Ekpom village in Igueben LGA with the arrest of the owner, Lucky Henry, 30.

According to him, another suspect, Ndidi Esegine, 52, was nabbed at Ugbodo forest, Ovia North East LGA with 266.8kgs cannabis sativa on Oct. 11.

“Two days later, operatives stormed Uzebba forest in Owan West LGA to destroy four cannabis farms where two suspects: Ezekiel Raphael and Gideon Bassey were arrested with a total of 223.5kgs processed C/S recovered.

“A stop and search operation along the East/West road, in Ahoada area of Rivers, has led to the recovery of 251.4kgs of cannabis sativa in a gold colour Toyota Sienna bus with Reg No – Abuja YAB 70 BR, and a suspect, Segun Ajayi, arrested.

“161.4kgs were equally recovered, from an ash colour Toyota Camry saloon car with Reg No- Abuja RBC 590 BQ,” he said.

Some the suspects arrested in connection to the seized drugs

Babafemi said an attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Edet Osu James, 44, to export 2.4kgs cocaine was foiled by officers of the Marine unit of the agency in Akwa Ibom.

He said the drugs, which were concealed in two large tins of powdered milk and to be exported to Cameroon was intercepted on Oct. 13, during an outward clearance of vessels going to Cameroon from Oron.

“In Imo, no fewer than 10,690 pills of tramadol were intercepted during stop and search operations along Owerri-Onitsha road.

“Three suspects: Saadu Usman; Godwin Emeka and Emeka Obijihe were arrested in follow-up efforts on Oct. 13.

“Interestingly, Emeka Obijihe was already standing trial for a similar offence for which he was arrested on May 9, and was on court bail when he was arrested again last Thursday for trafficking 6.5kgs of tramadol.

“In Jigawa, operatives recovered 67,300 pills of exol-5 and tramadol at Dansure/Roni junction, while in Kogi, a total of 46,100 pills of the same opioids were seized along Okene-Abuja highway both on Oct. 13.

Babafemi said six suspects were arrested at a notorious drug location in Ngurore town, Adamawa, with a total of 495kgs cannabis seized in addition to different quantities of opioids.

According to him, suspects arrested included: Chidi Titus, Vincent Donatus, Badishi Bitrus, Abubakar Inuwa, Abdul A. Abdul and Inuwa Ado Isa.

“At least, 5,480 pills of tramadol were seized from two suspects: Dalhatu Salisu and Hamisu Ishaq, who were arrested on Oct. 12 by operatives along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

“A total of 3,800 bottles of new psychoactive substance, Akuskura and 7,760 tablets of tramadol were recovered from five suspects along Ilorin-Jebba highway.

“Four of the suspects: Idris Nadir, 38, Suleiman Mubammed, 68, Babangida Zaki, 30 and Yahaya Lawal, claimed they were coming from Ibadan, Oyo State and taking the Akuskura to Katsina, Kano and Birnin Kebbi.

“The fifth suspect, Nafiu Idris, who was arrested with the tramadol pills said he was taking them to Kankara in Katsina State,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 200-level student of Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ms. Mercy Nyong, 30, was on Wednesday Oct. 12 arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.

Babafemi said the suspect was arrested for attempting to export 300 grams of tramadol 225mg concealed in incense products going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).