Security

Customs Hand Over Seized Drugs to NAFDAC

By Web News 330

By Abisola Oluremi

The Oyo Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has  handed over seized pharmaceutical drugs worth  over 1.7 billion naira to the National Agency For Food And Drug Administration And Control, NAFDAC.

At the event held at the NCS operational headquarters in Ibadan, the area comptroller of the command, Doctor Ben Oramalugo said the products were intercepted at Bakatari area of Oyo State, as the seized pharmaceutical products included Augumentin tablets, Ampicllox and Amoxicillin capsules.

According to report, products concealed in fifty three sacks with a duty paid value of One Billion Seven Hundred And Thirty Nine Million Naira were handed to the Coordinating Director NAFDAC, Mrs Roseline Ajayi.

Dr Oramalugo who explained that, though the suspects fled at the point of arrest, he however assured Nigerians that the command will not rest until they were all apprehended.

The Oyo Osun Custom Comptroller also said over Five Billion Naira had been generated into the federal government coffers in March 2024.

The addition according to him brought the total money generated in the first quarter of the year 2024 to over eighteen million naira.

Doctor Oramalugo said other contraband products seized so far included foreign rice, cannabis sativa, used tyres popularly called tokunbo , second hand Clothings, Ankara,  premium motors spirits, tramadol among others.

Receiving the  intercepted drugs, the coordinating  director , Mrs Roseline  Ajayi    who appreciated the Oyo Osun area command  of  the  Nigeria  customs service, explained that the drugs  would  be taken to the laboratory for further investigations

Mrs ajayi however urged the NCS to effect the arrest of the fleeing  perpetrators of such dastardly  act.

Crime

3 Wanted Drug Kingpins in NDLEA Net

By Web News 440

By Olaolu Fawole

Over two months after they were declared wanted, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested three members of an organized criminal organization which specializes in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America.

This followed the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA in a statement on Sunday, said that a total of 51.90 kilograms of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began on 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

According to the statement, the consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70kg recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2kg was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.

It said further that while the Agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.

The effort however paid off on Friday 19th April when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Irene Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra States, while another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Emmanuel Obinna was equally nabbed in Lagos.

In the same vein, the attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu Festus to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight on Thursday 18th April was thwarted by NDLEA officers.

When his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80kg were discovered concealed in his bag. In his statement, the suspect who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria on 1st April, confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid N1,200,000 upon successful delivery in Oman.

In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 20th April intercepted a car driven by Dahiru Mohammed at Girei on his way to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450kg. The operatives had earlier intercepted along Ngurore -Yola road a J5 bus marked AAA790XV loaded with motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, with consignments of Codeine Syrup and Tramadol concealed in-between the motor parts. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor at Jambutu motor park .

Also on Saturday 20th April, three suspects: Beriakuma Vivian Chinrdu, 40; Okpor Isaac, 68, and Daniel Onyeachom, 42, were arrested at Amarata,Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36kg and concealed in a false compartment of the vehicle they were travelling in.

Also, on Thursday 18th April, NDLEA operatives in Imo State, arrested Kingsley Omeje, 41, at Amajeke, Owerri while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he ordered.

In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North LGA where they arrested Linus Odogwu, 50, and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilograms of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5kg of same substance. Three other suspects: David Obungete Ekepenyoung, 22; Oluwaseun Folorunso,23; and Rabiu Musa, 32, were nabbed in other parts of the state in connection to different seizures totaling 77kg.

Crime

Drug Addict Kills Father

By Web News 484

By Abdullahi Jalaludeen (Kano)

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command says it has arrested a 25 year old man, Alkasim Ya’u, for allegedly stabbing his father to death at Tudun Yola ‘C’, area of Gwale Local Government Area of the state.

The State Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, DSC Ibrahim Abdullahi disclosed this to Radio Nigeria in Kano.

Abdullahi said the incident occured on Friday, January 5, 2024 at about 1330 hours at the residence of Alhaji Salisu Bala.

” The deceased father, Alhaji Ya’u Mohammed, brought his mentally ill son, Alkasim Ya’u, to Psychiatric Hospital Dawanau, for medical treatment, where they booked to see a medical doctor on Saturday January 6″.

He explained that instead of going back to Katsina, the deceased decided to sleep at his brother’s house at same address.

” Our investigation revealed that Alkasim became mentally ill due to his engagement in hard drugs activities. On their arrival at Tudun Yola, the son took a sharp object and injured the father, until the NSCDC operatives attached to the area took the victim to hospital and arrested the suspect,” he said.

He said that already, the family was making arrangements to return the corpse to Katsina State for funeral, while the suspect and the exhibit have been handed over to Rijiyar Zaki Divisional Police Station for further investigation.

Edited by Olaolu Fawole

Health

Pharmacy Society Wants Enhanced Support in Tackling Quackery

By Web News 506

By Fasilat Lawal

Agency saddled with regulating pharmaceutical practice need to be adequately improved to clamp down on quackery in the industry.

Immediate past Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter, Mr Abiodun Ajibade made the remark in a chat with Radio Nigeria.

Mr Ajibade , who said the call  became necessary due to the high number of quacks in the industry whose activities could endanger lives , enjoined people to avoid patronizing unlicensed drugs outlets especially hawkers.
Mr Ajibade pointed out factors militating against the profession to include high exchange rate resulting to high cost of drugs , brain drain and under funding of health sector

Speaking on this year’s theme Pharmacist Strengthening Health Systems, Mr Ajibade said pharmaceutical industry constitutes a unique part of the health sector, and therefore urged government to give pharmacists necessary support to grow in order to enhance and expand the health sector.

Some residents of Ibadan, who acknowledged the role pharmacists play in health care,  advocated greater support for stakeholders in the industry.

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Crime

NDLEA Uncovers Opioids Worth N4.8bn in Lagos Warehouse

By Web News 473

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Sunday, recovered N4.8 billion Worth Of Opioids in a warehouse in Lagos and also intercepted $ 20 million counterfeit notes in Abuja; arrests wanted teenage bandits in Sokoto.

The Agency made this known in a statement signed by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi shared on the agency’s Facebook page on Sunday.

The statement in part said, “Multi-billion naira worth of illicit drugs were again seized at a warehouse tucked in the midst of popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA on Saturday 19th August.

“Recovered from the warehouse owned by a wanted billionaire drug baron, include 1.4 million (1,400,000) pills of tramadol 225 mg weighing 826 kgs; 3.2 million (3,200,000) pills of codeine with a gross weight of 3,360 kgs; and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance, with a combined street value of Four Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,820,500,000) only.

During the operation that lasted hours, a suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, who is Chief Security Officer to the wanted drug baron who parades as an automobile spare parts dealer, was arrested and now assisting ongoing investigation.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

NDLEA Nabs Artistes’ Manager Peddling Drugs at Lagos VIP Clubs

By Web News 431

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Lekki-based artistes’ manager and his Ikoyi business accomplice who specialize in distributing illicit drugs to fun seekers at VIP night clubs and lounges in Lekki and Island axis of Lagos state.

Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said their arrest followed an intelligence about a shipment of Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis coming for them from Los Angeles, United States.

“Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde (aka Papalampa) was the first to be arrested in his house at No. 3 Ope Daniel Taiwo Street, off Chisco Bus-Stop, Lekki area of Lagos when the consignment arrived on Sunday 23rd July.

“During preliminary interview with the suspect, he confessed he started the illicit trade three years ago and has been selling to patrons of clubs and lounges in Lekki and Lagos Island, some of which he identified as Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA and Hot box.

“Oseni said beside the drug business, he also organizes shows for artistes around Lagos and outside Nigeria.

“A total of ten (10) parcels of Colorado weighing 2.50kg concealed inside large tins of coffee and duvets linked to Oseni were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja.

“During a follow up search of his residence, operatives recovered some quantities of the same substance, a digital weighing scale and other paraphernalia.

“An Ikoyi based businessman, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna also linked to the shipment was away in South Africa when the consignment arrived.

“While operatives maintained surveillance around his 18 Okotie Eboh Close, Ikoyi residence, they also set their dragnet for him at the airport.

“He eventually arrived into the waiting arms of NDLEA officers on Thursday 27th July when he returned to the country on a Kenya Airlines flight at the Lagos airport.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

PHOTOS: NDLEA Arrests Blind Grandpa, Leper for Drug Trafficking

By Web News 734

Efforts to bring into Nigeria 126.95 kilograms of cocaine and skunk concealed in herbal tea packs and imported vehicles by drug cartels from Brazil and Canada have again been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu and the Tincan seaport in Lagos.

Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA, in a statement issued on
Sunday 22nd January 2023, said at the Enugu airport, an Ethiopian Airline male passenger, Eze Christian Ikenna, 42, coming from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was intercepted on arrival at the airport at about 12:30pm on Friday 20th January. A search of his two bags revealed 19 big sachets which he claimed to contain herbal tea but were later found to be cocaine weighing 16.20 kilograms.

In the same vein, a joint examination carried out on a container marked TCLU 7799237 from Montreal, Canada at Sifax Okota Bonded Terminal by NDLEA operatives attached to Tincan Command of the Agency on Wednesday 18th January led to the discovery of 110.75kgs of cannabis Indica concealed in two of the four vehicles in the container: a 2011 Toyota Sienna and a 2011 Honda Pilot SUV.

Deliberate efforts to cut access to illicit opioids by the Agency again paid off on Tuesday when a consignment of Tramadol NDLEA operatives have been tracking for some months was eventually traced to a warehouse at Greenfield estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. When the store was opened, a total of One Million Six Hundred and Forty Five Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty (1,645,560) pills of Tramadol 100mg, 200mg and 225mg were recovered.

Another 60,000 pills of Tramadol 250mg were equally recovered from a wanted drug dealer, Diugwu Alphonsus in Bariga area of the state same day while raids carried out in Akala area of Mushin on Wednesday 18th and Friday 20th January led to the recovery of 781.7kgs of cannabis.

In Osun state, NDLEA officers on Friday 20th Jan. took into custody a blind 67-year-old grandpa, Aliyu Adebiyi, in whose house they found 234 kilograms of cannabis at Sokoto village, Owena Ijesa, Atakumosa East LGA. In his statement, he said a drug dealer kept the consignment with him for a fee of N6,000 per month and paid for three months upfront.

Similarly, a leper notorious for drug dealing, Haruna Abdullahi, 45, was arrested at Garko town, Kano on Thursday 19th Jan. while 2.2kgs of cannabis and various quantities of Diazepam and Exol were recovered from him.

No less than 370kgs of cannabis were recovered from a sawmill at Ilale, Owo in Ondo State when operatives stormed the industrial plant following credible intelligence. In Edo state, 261 kilograms of the illicit substance were seized from a suspect, Uche Monday at Uneme-Osu, Ososo Road in Akoko Edo area of the state with another 74kgs evacuated from a bush at Okpela fertiliser community in Etsako East LGA.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Monday 16th January raided Lugbe area of the FCT based on credible intelligence that a dealer was operating in a batcher on the outskirt of the town. A search of the batcher led to the recovery of 42.9kgs cannabis, 15grams cocaine, 137grams Methamphetamine, and a cash of Two Million One Hundred and Forty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N2,148,500) only, believed to be proceeds of the criminal trade.

While reacting to the seizures and arrests by the Lagos, AIIA, Tincan, Osun, Kano, Ondo, Edo and FCT Commands in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) commended all the officers involved in the operations and charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and focused on winning the war against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Olaolu Fawole

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Crime

NDLEA Intercepts Drug Consignments in Statue

By Web News 733

Attempts by elements of Organised Criminal Groups to use various disingenuous modes of concealment to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja and Tincan seaport in Lagos have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

A statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy of NDLEA Headquarters, on Sunday says that, no less than 37.5 kilograms of such illicit consignments were intercepted in the past week, with the arrest of 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to the seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos state.

At the Lagos airport, a freight agent Ogunsina Damilare was arrested on Friday 6th January following a bid to export 1.5 kilograms of skunk hidden in foodstuffs to Dubai, UAE through the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA, while a similar attempt to ship 11.5kgs of the same substance to the United Kingdom was frustrated when the consignment concealed in a giant wooden sculpture was intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos.

Curiously, the latter emanated from Ghana with London as destination.

At the Tincan port in Lagos, a shipment of 24.5kilograms cannabis indica to Nigeria from Montreal, Canada was intercepted by operatives while an N8million bribe offered NDLEA officers by the importer has been secured in an account for the prosecution of the case.

While the importer, Cedrick Maduweke is still at large, one of his accomplices, Steve Isioma Adigwe has been arrested. The consignment was hidden in a used Toyota Sienna vehicle that arrived the port along with three other cars in a container marked MSMU 5082733.

A total of 3, 672 kilograms of cannabis sativa were recovered from two locations and five suspects arrested in Kaduna during separate raid operations.

Arrested at a warehouse at Rido village on Wednesday 3rd January include: Edward Emmanuel, 28; and Miracle Madu, with 298 bags of C/S weighing 3,576kgs. Investigations revealed that the consignment was moved from a southern state to Kaduna in a petroleum product bearing truck.

Also, two other suspects: Sunday Bassey, 29 and Jessica Daniel, 14, were nabbed with 96kgs of same substance at Gonin Gora area of the state, while Sanusi Isah, 30, was arrested on Saturday 7th January at Giwa area with over 12,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg and Diazepam.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 7th Jan. intercepted Kabiru Abdulhamid, 40, with 119 blocks of C/S weighing 73kgs at Semugu area, while a total of 28,400 tablets of tramadol and over 230kgs of cannabis were seized in raid operations in Festac town and Lagos Island areas of Lagos state.

Some of the suspects arrested in the Lagos raids include: Rukayyat Eshinlokun; Pelumi Alejo and Banna Maina who specializes in distribution of illicit drugs disguised as a dispatch rider.

In Imo state, a suspect, Amechi Moses was arrested in a follow up operation on Friday 6th January following the interception of 29, 800 tablets of Tramadol 225mg in a commercial bus along Owerri – Onitsha road going to Aba in Abia state.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of Tincan, MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Imo Commands for the arrests and seizures.

He charged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels in Nigeria while balancing their efforts on supply reduction with drug demand reduction activities.

Olaolu Fawole

Foreign

Mexican Drugs Lord Rafael Caro Quintero Reportedly Nabbed

By Web News 528

Mexican drugs lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who is on the US most wanted list, has been arrested in the northern state of Chihuahua, reports say.

Mr Quintero, who is accused of murdering a US drug enforcement agent in 1985, was held in the city of Guachochi, local media say.

The US had offered $20m (£17m) for any information leading to his capture.

In 2013, a court in Mexico freed Mr Quintero after he had served 28 years for the murder of Enrique Camarena.

The court cut short Mr Quintero’s 40-year sentence, ruling that he should have been tried in a state rather than a federal court.

The murder strained US-Mexico ties at the time and changed the war on drugs trafficking.

Mr Quintero was one of three founding members of the powerful Guadalajara Carte

BBC/Simeon Ugbodovon

Crime

Court Grants General Overseer Arrested with Drugs N2m Bail

By Web News 460

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted bail to the founder and General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Reverend Ekwem Emmanuel Ugochukwu, who was arrested with drugs at Lagos Airport.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had arrested the cleric at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport while on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya, with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body.

The popular Preacher who has his church headquartered in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka, Awka North LGA, Anambra State, and two other branches in Lagos and Abuja, was arrested on Monday 7th March, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis Ababa.

Following his arrest, the NDLEA arraigned the suspect on a one-count of unlawful export of the banned drug and was first arraigned on 29th March.

The charge reads: “That you Ekwem Emmanuel Ugochukwu, male, adult, on or about the 7th day of March 2022 during the outward clearance of passengers of Ethiopia Airlines flight to Kenya at screening 1, Departure Hall of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja-Lagos, without lawful authority exported 40 grammes of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to Cocaine, Heroin, and LSD.”

In his ruling on Friday, the presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2 million with one surety after his “not guilty” plea to a one-count and adjourned the trial to June 26.

Justice Osiagor ruled that the surety must be a Director in a Federal or Lagos State government establishment.

He remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service till the perfection of his bail conditions.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Crime

NDLEA Intercepts Drugs Concealed in Statue of Mary

By Web News 765

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, embedded in two courier companies in Lagos have intercepted illicit drugs concealed in the statue of Mary and auto spare parts heading to Canada and the United Arab Emirates, UAE.

The narcotics agents from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations seized 500 grammes of heroin going to Canada and hidden inside auto spare parts from one of the courier firms while 140 grammes of Methamphetamine going to the Philippines and concealed inside a statue of Mary was seized in another courier company.

The Director, Operations and General Investigations, Adeyemi Adeofe disclosed that “3.1 kg of cannabis going to UAE concealed inside spices, and another kilogramme of cannabis going to UAE concealed inside local herbs were intercepted and seized.

In a related development, the Ondo State Command of the Agency has in series of raids between 6th and 20th April 2021, across the state arrested 31 suspects from whom 275.552kg of assorted illicit drugs were recovered.

According to the acting Commander of the state Command, Cally’s Alumona, “the sting operations were carried out to curb the increasing rate of drug abuse among the youths and even the elderly in Ondo State.” 

He said, “this has led to the arrest of 31 suspects, which include 24 males, and 7 females.”

 He added that the illicit drugs seized “consist of 74.285Kgs of cannabis Sativa, 267 grammes of psychotropic substances; 201Kgs of scrunchies (a combination of cannabis, tramadol, ethanol, and zobo), while many of the drug spots have been dismantled.”

Meanwhile, operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Command of the Agency have intercepted and seized 62.150kg of illicit drugs in the Oron and Uyo areas of the state. 

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs Obot Bassey said four suspects were arrested in the sting two operations carried out on Thursday 22nd  and Friday 23rd April 2021.

FRCN Abuja