NDLEA Seizes Cocaine, Tramadol, Others In State Operations

BY BLESSING NKEREUWEM – In a major crackdown on drug cartels across the country, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded successes in its various operations in  different States of the Federation.

According to the Agency, among its successful operations is the  dismantling of a drug cartel controlled by one Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi (49), and his elder sister, Ms Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi (50).

Reports indicated the siblings were arrested in Aba, Abia State, following the seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine worth over N4.1 billion in street value.

A statement signed by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said the operation, which took place on June 13th and 14th 2024, led to the confiscation of about 20.76 kilograms of illegal substances from their hideouts.

Similarly, the statement said NDLEA operatives in Lagos uncovered a warehouse in the Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri, stocked with 82,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N600 million at street value, a Toyota Tacuma truck, and two buses used for distribution.

It further stated that four suspects, Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke (38); Emeka Emmanuel (48); Bonaventure Ugochukwu (59); and Martin Dike( 56) were arrested in connection with the importation and distribution of the opioid with a Toyota Takuma and two buses used for distributing the illicit drugs also confiscated on 10th June 2024.

Furthermore, the NDLEA operatives intercepted one Ibrahim Abdulhamid on June 12 at Alaba Suru, Ojo Local Council Area of Lagos with 29,100 tramadol pills and 3.9 liters of codeine syrup.

Also, the Agency’s operations led to the arrest of Yasir Rabi’u(23), and Abubakar Ado(30), major drugs distributors in the Kano and Jigawa states at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano on 10th June 2024 with 230,600 tramadol 200mg and 225mg pills recovered from them.

In Ogun State, NDLEA officials raided a ‘Skuchies’ production factory on June 12 in the Sabo area of Shagamu, arresting seven suspects. They are Karim Jamiu, Oriyimi Ayo, Bamidele Wasiu, Rasheed Olanrewaju, Ramota Lawal, Amudalat Olanrewaju and Adeniyi Omotosho.

The raid saw a total of 387 liters of ‘Skuchies’, 70 liters of industrial codeine, 25kg of cannabis, and other psychoactive substances as well as various equipment used in their production being impounded in the process.

The Agency also took the fight against illicit drugs to Edo State where it’s operatives destroyed over 10,534.78kg of cannabis on June 12 in Uhen Forest. In the process four suspects were arrested and 16 kg of cannabis recovered from them as exhibits. They are Frank Ishoku (38); Clifford Ossia (49); Vanger Timothy (30); and John Peter Oluwaseyi (30).

Another operation also took place in Ise Ekiti Forest, Ekiti State with the support of other Security Agencies leading to the destruction of 18,425 kilograms of cannabis on June 14.

From Abuja, the NDLEA statement said its officials arrested Muhammed Abba (33) and Samson Ehigozie (42), with 3,550 bottles of “Akuskura”, a new mixture of psychotropic substances confiscated from them at Garki Area 10 and Dutse Suokale on 14th June.

While Emmanuel Ogechi (24) was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 11,200 pills of tramadol along the Otukpo-Enugu road, in Anambra, Anayo Onwe (40) was arrested with 62.4kg of cannabis Sativa at Nteje while One kg of Methamphetamine belonging to a fleeing suspect in Oraifite was confiscated.

In Kwara, Muhammed Musa (24) was caught in possession of 33 kg of cannabis at Bode-Saadu, Jebba while Shokuro Adeola (59) was detained for being in possession of 11.5kg of the same substance along Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Oyo State.

Meanwhile, in continuation of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), the NDLEA conducted sensitization activities across the country last week with enlightenment lectures in various schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.

Notable sessions include those held; at Mind Builder College in Oyo town, Oyo State; Demonstration Secondary School in Kabba, Kogi State; Government Secondary School in Bunkure, Kano State; and Command Day Secondary School in Ede, Osun State.

Also on the list are Khulafau-Rashideen Islamic School in Babanna, Niger State; and Aggrey Memorial Modern School in Arochukwu, Abia State, among others.

In praising the efforts and successes recorded by its personnel, the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) urged them to intensify the campaign against illicit drugs, especially in relations to supply and demand reduction activities.