NDLEA arrests wanted Chadian kingpin and grandpa in London-bound drug seizure

In a major victory against drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious Chadian drug kingpin and a septuagenarian grandpa in connection with a London-bound drug shipment, which resulted in the seizure of an astonishing four tons of illicit substances.

This operation came as part of a broader crackdown by the NDLEA, with additional successful raids and interceptions conducted in multiple states across Nigeria.

According Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Obiorah Chigozie Samuel, a wanted fugitive, had been on the NDLEA’s radar since September 15, 2023, following the interception of a 1,500kg shipment of skunk concealed in flour destined for London, UK, at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. During the operation, his freight agent, Nworah Adaugo Precious, was apprehended.

Undeterred by the previous bust, Obiorah walked right into the NDLEA’s trap on September 28, 2023, attempting to ship an additional 2,000kg of skunk concealed in cartons from the same airport.

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In his statement, Obiorah claimed to have previously been involved in the legitimate business of selling shoes in Lagos before venturing into the illicit drug trade.

Other Interceptions: In a coordinated effort, NDLEA operatives in various states achieved remarkable successes. The Federal Capital Territory Command intercepted a container truck laden with 1,188 kilograms of skunk hidden under cartons of toothpaste.

The skunk had been loaded in Owo, Ondo state, before making its way to Kano.

The truck’s driver, Amafan Fattison, aged 28, was arrested.

In Bayelsa state, 432kg of the same illicit substance was discovered inside an abandoned J5 bus on Saipem road, Opolo, Yenagoa.

The vehicle was also seized for further investigation.

In Kano, a 70-year-old grandpa, Ado Mai Unguwa, was apprehended with 143.2kg of skunk in Dindere village, Tofa LGA.

Simultaneously, NDLEA operatives in Enugu seized 110.6kg of the same substance from a locked-up shop at Aria new market.

Operatives in Lagos executed a well-coordinated raid on the notorious Idi-Oro drug enclave in Mushin, confiscating 212.5kg of cannabis sativa belonging to a wanted drug lord.

In Kwara state, officers recovered 104kg of skunk from a Toyota Camry car in Offa, while a Chadian national, Mohammed Ibrahim, aged 25, was arrested at Mafa checkpoint in Borno state with 11.8kg of the same illicit substance.

Collaborative Efforts: The Plateau state police command, in collaboration with NDLEA, transferred four suspects (Yusuf Akim, Frank Gah, Jackson Ejeh, and Joseph Utsu) along with 1,978kg of cannabis recovered from them to the state NDLEA command.

In Cross River, NDLEA operatives seized 40,000 ampules of pentazocine injection from two suspects, Fajulugbe Adeshola Temitayo, aged 35, and Nnaorji Agwe Solomon, aged 54, at Mobil by MCC road in Calabar.

Additionally, in Kogi state, NDLEA officers arrested a suspect, Ifeanyi Odoh, aged 25, with 59,867 pills of opioids, including Tramadol, and 4.03kg of cannabis sativa in the Idah area of the state.

Continued Advocacy: The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy activities continued unabated across the country during the past week. These activities included an advocacy visit to Prof. Lateef Babatunde Ayeleru, Director/CEO of Nigeria French Village in Badagry, Lagos, by the Seme Special Area command of NDLEA.

Furthermore, there were sensitization lectures at Ar-Rahmania College of Health Sciences in Minna, Niger state, as well as advocacy and sensitization lectures at Pentecostal Academy in Aba, Abia state, and for students and staff of the School of Nursing in Eket, Akwa Ibom state, among others.

Commendation: NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, FCT, Bayelsa, Borno, Kogi, Kwara, Cross River, Borno, and Enugu Commands for their outstanding work in making these arrests and seizures possible.

He also praised their counterparts in all commands across the country for maintaining a delicate balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

The NDLEA’s relentless efforts against drug trafficking and abuse continue to yield significant results, with this recent operation dealing a severe blow to illicit drug networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.