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NDLEA Busts, Arrests 5 Members Of Int’l Drug Syndicate

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An international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand have been smashed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Also, no fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-week intelligence led operation in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

This was disclosed in a Sunday statement by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, saying the unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived at the NAHCO shed on an Air Peace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

He said that the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday 24th April after he showed up to pick up two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand-based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.

According to Babafemi, the consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.

He said another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra state where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday 27th April while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.

Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel, were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday 29th April.

He stated that their arrest led to another operation in Abia state where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.

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Crime

NSCDC Arrests Gun Running, Kidnapping Suspects In Nasarawa

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad have announced the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in illegal firearms possession, gun running, kidnapping, banditry and job racketeering.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson for NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi, items recovered during the operation include two automatic rifles with three magazines, an AK-47 rifle with 15 live rounds of ammunition, an FN rifle with two live rounds, one live cartridge, and nine locally fabricated pistols.


Some of the weapons recovered from the suspects.
The statement added that a bayonet and two pairs of uniforms from the Nigerian Forest Security Services were seized.

The suspects arrested, according to the statement, are Umar Ibrahim, Nura Abubakar, and Mohammed Sule, who are currently being detained in Ukoso Komva Ward, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,

The Service Spokesman explained that the suspects were apprehended on their way to deliver arms to a buyer.

He added that upon interrogation, 3 of the suspects claimed that they were deceived into the crime by one Ali who is currently at large as he earlier invited them to assist him with the sales of firearms in his possession.

“They were, however, apprehended on their way to deliver it to the buyer”.

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Herbalist Hospitalized After Failed ‘Bulletproof’ Charm Test

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In a bizarre incident in Kuchibuyi Village which occurred on 23rd November at Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a local herbalist sustained severe injuries after attempting to test the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm by shooting himself in the stomach with a locally fabricated gun.

The herbalist, identified as Ismail Usman, reportedly carried out the dangerous experiment to demonstrate the protective powers of the charm. However, the charm failed to work, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

Following a distress call from a resident, Shandam Michael, a police team from the Byazhin Division arrived promptly at the scene. The injured man was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further medical care.

A subsequent search of Usman’s residence led to the recovery of the locally made firearm and a collection of charms believed to have been involved in the incident.

The FCT Police Command has confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will face charges for attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

Olatunji Disu, FCT Commissioner of Police, condemned the incident, highlighting the dangers associated with illegal firearms. “This situation illustrates the serious risks of engaging in reckless behaviour. We strongly advise the community to avoid such dangerous practices.”

SP Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, stressed the importance of community vigilance. “It’s crucial for residents to look out for one another and report any suspicious activities.”

As investigations continue, the police remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents.

This incident highlights the dangers of superstitious practices and underscores the importance of seeking scientifically proven methods to address safety concerns.

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NDLEA Arrests 80-Year-Old Grandpa For Drugs, Intercepts 14.9bn Opioids

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says its operatives have arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Aremu Shojobi, with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The Agency said that Shojobi confessed to selling illicit drugs for the past 25 years.

In a statement by it spokesperson on Sunday, the NDLEA said Shojobi further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin republic, and sells to his customers from his residence between 7am and 10pm every day.

“Operatives of the Lagos State Strategic Command of the Agency on Friday 20th September arrested an 80-year-old grandfather, Pa Aremu Shojobi with 14 kilograms of cannabis at his home in Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

“In his statement, the Octogenarian claimed he has been in the business of selling illicit drugs for 25 years. He further claimed he gets his supplies from Benin republic, and sells to his customers from his residence between 7am and 10pm every day,” Babafemi said.

The NDLEA spokesperson also disclosed that a total of 25 million pills of tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than tramadol, and 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered at the Tincan port complex in Lagos.

He added that the seizures were made on 17th and 20th September 2024, from three containers that had been on the agency’s watchlist following processed intelligence.

“As a result, the NDLEA had requested for 100% joint examination of the shipments with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies. The 25 million pills of tapentadol have an estimated street value of Thirteen Billion Seven Hundred and Twenty-Five Million Naira (N13,725,000,000.00) while the codeine consignment has an estimated street value of Two Billion Four Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N2,450,000,000.00), bringing the total value of the seizures to Fourteen Billion Nine Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N14,950,000,000.00).”

“The tapentadol consignment packed in 500 cartons was discovered in one of the containers on Tuesday 17th September while another container examined same day contained 175,000 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine packed in 875 cartons. The third container containing 175,000 bottles of CSC cough syrup with codeine was examined on Friday 20th September,” he added.

The NDLEA statement further said, “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Wednesday 18th September raided the two homes of a community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry West LCDA, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, where a total of 226kg of cannabis was recovered from his two wives and son.

“Though Alhaji Talba is currently at large, a search of his house in Ashipa area of Seme Badagry led to the recovery of 93 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 57.6kg from his first wife, Asma’u Bashiru, 35, and son, Sadat Bashiru, 22, while another search of his house at Aketegbo area of Seme Badagry led to the seizure of 302 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 168.6kg from his second wife Hauwa Bashir, 42.

“No less than 720 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 390kg were also recovered from a Mitsubishi delivery van marked MUS 720 XH at Ojo area of Lagos on Monday 16th September.

“At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 15th September arrested a 38-year-old drug mule, Okafor Ifeanyi Anthony while attempting to board a Qatar Airlines flight to Iran via Doha with 76 wraps of cocaine in his stomach. After three days in excretion observation, Okafor excreted the 76 pellets of the ingested cocaine weighing 1.267kg.

“In Kogi state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 17th September recovered 700,000 pills of exol-5 coming from Lagos for distribution in Kano and Kaduna, while a suspect Udemefuna Chibuike, 23, was arrested by operatives on Friday 20th September along Mokwa-Jebba road, Niger state, in possession of 49,000 tablets of tramadol, 20,000 tablets of diazepam, 100 ampoules of tramadol injection and 50 bottles of cough syrup with codeine.

“A total of 451 blocks of cannabis weighing 213kg were intercepted along Azikiwe road, Port Harcourt, Rivers state on Wednesday 18th September, by NDLEA officers who apprehended a suspect Ogochukwu Paul, 33, conveying the consignment to a notorious drug haven in Borikiri.

“While operatives in Plateau state on Friday 20th September arrested a wanted suspect Jonathan Ali Abuttur, 46, at Agingi- Rukuba road Bassa LGA in possession of 808kg of cannabis sativa concealed in 68 bags of sugar and fertilizer, their counterparts in Kwara also nabbed Shaibu Musa with 28kg of the same psychoactive substance.

“With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Rayhaan Model Academy, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state; Government Day Secondary School, Danrimi, Malumfashi LGA,Katsina state; Technical College, Ihe-Achi, Oji River LGA, Enugu state; Corpus Christi College, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state; fresh students of Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele Ibadan, Oyo state; traders at Agboju market, Festac town, Lagos and the palace of Oloola of Ilara, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Lawal Oyede and his chiefs, at Ilara, Ogun state, among others.

“While commending the officers and men of Tincan, MAKIA, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Kogi, Edo and Kwara Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.”

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