… Seizes tonnes of narcotics in 6 states; Foils attempt to export tramadol, arrests 8***
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, Ohiagu Sunday, who allegedly leads a drug syndicate at the international wing of the airport.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
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Babafemi said that the suspect was nabbed on Tuesday following the arrest of an intending passenger on an Air peace flight to Dubai, UAE.
He said that the passenger named, Obinna Osita, was arrested with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of cannabis Sativa weighing 4.25kg concealed in cassava product, garri and crayfish.
He also said that one other member of the airport syndicate who worked with Ohiagu had also been arrested, while operatives were trailing another suspect.
“Investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug dealer recruited Obinna, a 42-year-old native of Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra, to traffic the drugs.
” And equally contracted Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner from Orlu West Local Government Area of Imo to create access for the unhindered passage of the trafficker.
“The drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new terminal of the MMIA comes on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of bottles of viju and fearless energy drinks.
“They were used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE through the NAHCO export shed on Monday, Aug., 15, ” he said.
Babafemi said that a freight agent had already been arrested in connection with the seizure and more Investigations were still ongoing.
In the meantime, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), had seized tonnes of narcotics in Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi Edo and Delta states in the last one week.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that two suspected fake security agents taking 14kg cannabis to Maiduguri, Borno, were intercepted along Potiskum- Damaturu road in Yobe.
He said that Adetula Olarenwaju was arrested with four blocks of the substance on Thursday on his way from Lagos.
He also said that Sadiq Garba, returning from Gombe, was also nabbed with 22 blocks of the substance on Saturday.
Babafemi added that Abu Sunday was arrested with 48.4kg cannabis at Idk quarter, Ibilo, in Edo, while Rosemary Afekhuai was caught with 1,130 tramadol caps, among others, at Oluma quarters, Otuo, Owan East LGA of the same state.
“In Delta, Mustapha Isah was arrested at Oko market with 9, 800 Tramadol caps weighing 6.4kg, while NDLEA operatives in Kaduna also nabbed Chinedu Onnuka, at Narayi -Kaduna, with 33,000 tablets of Bromazepam.
“No fewer than 80 blocks of Cannabis Sativa were recovered from an abandoned tricycle with reg. no: BAU 70 WL.
” 25,000 tablets of exol-5 were seized from a dealer, Usman Muhammed, who was nabbed along Bauchi-Gombe road, ” he said.
Babafemi said that a raid operation at a market in Mubi, Adamawa on Wednesday, led to the seizure of 62,360 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.
He said that two suspects, Sirajo Idris and Anas Abubakar, were arrested the same day with 107 pallets of cannabis at Kamba, a border town in Kebbi.
“The skunk weighing 90kg was smuggled in from the Benin Republic.
“In Kano, a drug dealer Lawal Adamu, 31, was arrested along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora, with 203 blocks of cannabis weighing 136kg,
“Another suspect, Taheer Abdullahi, was nabbed on Friday, at Gadar Tamburawa, with 3000 ampules of tramadol injection, ” he said.
Babafemi said that a raid operation at Kara Masaka, back of Mararaba market and Zamani estate on Saturday, led to the arrest of 26 suspects.
He said that 25.7kg cannabis, 4.5kg codeine and 300 tablets of rohypnol tablets were seized from the drug joints raided.
“In Sokoto state, the village head of Rugga, Shagari LGA, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed (aka Danbala), a notorious drug dealer who was arrested on Monday would be facing charges any moment from now.
“Before his recent arrest during which 436.381kg cannabis and 1kg diazepam were recovered from his house, an earlier raid on his home on July 20, had also led to the seizure of 11.5kg cannabis, 2.259kg exol5 and 500grams of diazepam, “he said.
In the same vein, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), had foiled an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through the Lagos airport during an outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline to Oman via Addis Ababa.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that a suspect Jonah Chukwuemeka was arrested in connection to the drugs.
Babafemi said that a total of 1,995 Tramadol tablets with a gross weight of 900 grams hidden in locust beans in his luggage, was intercepted.
He said that the bag containing the illicit substance was handed over to the suspect at the airport by one, Olagunju Abbas, who was promptly arrested.
In the same vein, packs of Tramadol 225mg containing 119,500 capsules were on Thursday transferred to NDLEA by the Nigeria Customs, cargo wing of MMIA.
“The consignment had come in through Ethiopian Airline from Pakistan, ” he said.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Saturday raided a car shop, Bolak Motors, at Ewela bus stop, Oshodi, where bags of 615.2kg cannabis were recovered, along with nine vehicles.
Babafemi said that efforts were ongoing to track the car dealer, Alhaji Ismail, who was at large.
Babafemi said that no fewer than eight suspects were arrested and bags of illicit drugs seized.
This, he said, was when Akerele area of Agege, Shogunle and Mafoluku areas of Oshodi, Fagba area of Ogba, Ipodo area of Ikeja and Iyana Ipaja park, were raided by the NDLEA operatives.
Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the MMIA and Lagos commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars as the agency would always be on the look for drug traffickers and abusers.
