The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a pregnant woman, a female undergraduate, a nursing mother and 25 suspects in drug raids across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
9,437.6 kilograms of cannabis and 138,053 tablets of pharmaceutical opioids, among other illicit drugs, were recovered from the arrested drug suspects.
These were revealed in a press release by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi who also stated that nine Ghanaians were jailed for 72 years for smuggling 10,843kgs cannabis into Nigeria.
The indiction raids, Babafemi stated were carried out in 12 states, including Yobe, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos and the FCT.
“In the FCT, operatives, on Saturday, 15 October, 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, Saadatu 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) from two suspects: Mohammed Mamuda and a married pregnant woman, Hauwa Haruna.
“At least, 99 bags of cannabis and three bags of its seeds weighing 1,286kgs were seized on Thursday, 13 October when operatives raided a location in Ogbese area of Ondo State.
“Another raid at Umukpe Forest in Uhunmonde Council Area of Edo State led to the seizure of 410kgs of the same substance in addition to a motorcycle, two dane guns and the arrest of two suspects: Numga Anim (30) and Friday Ebije (50).
“Not less than 50 bags of C/S, weighing 623kgs were also recovered at Ekpom village in Igueben Local Government Area with the arrest of the owner, Lucky Henry (30)
“Another suspect, Ndidi Esegine (52), was nabbed at Ugbodo Forest, Ovia North-East Local Government Area with 266.8kgs C/S on Tuesday, 11 October.
“Two days later, operatives stormed Uzebba Forest in Owan West Local Government Area 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 State has led to the recovery of 251.4kgs of C/S in a gold colour Toyota Sienna bus with Reg No. Abuja YAB 70 BR.
“A suspect, Segun Ajayi, was arrested, while 161.4kgs were equally recovered, from an ash colour Toyota Camry saloon car with Reg No. Abuja RBC 590 BQ.
“In Akwa Ibom State, attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Edet Osu James (44), to export 2.4kgs cocaine concealed in two large tins of powdered milk to Cameroon was foiled by officers of the Marine Unit of the agency on Thursday, 13 October during an outward clearance of vessels going to Cameroon from Oron.
“In Imo State, no fewer than 10,690 pills of tramadol were intercepted during stop and search operations along Owerri-Onitsha road with three suspects- Saadu Usman; Godwin Emeka and Emeka Obijihe- arrested in follow-up efforts on Thursday 13 October.
“Interestingly, Emeka Obijihe was already standing trial for a similar offence for which he was arrested on 9 May, 2022 and was on court bail when he was arrested again last Thursday for trafficking 6.5kgs of tramadol.
“In Jigawa State, operatives recovered 67,300 pills of exol-5 and tramadol at Dansure/Roni Junction on Thursday, 13 October.
“In Kogi State, a total of 46,100 pills of the same opioids were seized along Okene-Abuja Highway, also on 13 October.
“At least, six suspects were arrested at a notorious drug location in Ngurore Town, Adamawa State with a total of 495kgs cannabis seized in addition to different quantities of opioids.
“Suspects arrested include 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 Wednesday, 12 October 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,” Babafemi stated.
He disclosed that a 200-level student of Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ms. Mercy Nyong (30), was arrested last Wednesday.
The female undergraduate, NDLEA stated, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos for attempting to export 300grams of tramadol 225mg concealed in incense products going to Dubai, UAE.
He added that nine Ghanaians arrested for attempting to smuggle 10,843.95kgs cannabis into Nigeria through the sea were, last Friday, convicted and sentenced to 72 years imprisonment.
“They were initially arrested by men of the Civil Defence Corps and transferred to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.
“At the conclusion of investigations, they were arraigned in charge number FHC/L/292C/2021.
“Delivering his ruling on the matter on Friday, Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Lagos convicted the Ghanaians of conspiracy and dealing in cannabis and thereafter sentenced each of them to eight years in prison.
“The convicts include Victor Wuddah; Freeman Gazul; Adotete Joseph; Sottie Moses; Sottie Stephen; Christian Tette; Kanu Okonipa; Daniel Koyepti; and Kanu Natte,” Babafemi added.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), CON, OFR, commended the officers and men of Yobe, MMIA, Ondo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos and FCT commands of the agency for their efforts at drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction
He also charged the NDLEA operatives and their counterparts in other commands across the country not to rest on their oars.
