• Arrests kingpin behind fake couple’s cocaine; raids cartels’ leaders’ homes; recovers luxury vehicles, others; intensifies WADA advocacy campaigns across states
Agents from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have successfully intercepted various quantities of illicit substances, including ephedrine, skunk, and nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas).
These prohibited substances were concealed within packages of semovita and dry pepper and were destined for shipment to South Africa and Kenya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Members of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) were involved in this operation, and several of them were apprehended.
Their lavish residences were searched, and their luxury vehicles were confiscated.
According to Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, the agency’s operatives acted on credible intelligence and, on August 25th, arrested a notorious drug trafficker named Suleiman Babatunde Oba.
Oba was a key member of a cartel involved in distributing cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ephedrine across Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
He was apprehended while attempting to board a Rwanda Air flight to South Africa, carrying two boxes filled with ephedrine disguised as semovita packs.
“This seized substance is a precursor chemical used in the production of methamphetamine.
“During his statement, Suleiman, who held a South African passport and had lived there for over two decades, identified Hakeem Babatunde Salami, a resident of both Lagos and South Africa, as the ringleader of the drug operation.
“A subsequent raid on Salami’s residence in Lagos revealed that he had fled the country on the same day Suleiman was arrested.
“Nevertheless, law enforcement recovered a white Toyota Venza car (LSR 410 HT), a Mercedes Benz SUV (LSD 998HP), phones, and crucial documents needed for further investigation.
In August 2021, the NDLEA confiscated 25.60kg of ephedrine from a trafficker named Arua Emmanuel Onwuka at the Lagos airport.
“This seizure has also been linked to the same cartel, whose identified members are currently on the run. An airport official named Godwin Shedrack, alias “Goddy,” has been implicated as a member of the syndicate and is under investigation.”
Additionally, NDLEA operatives thwarted an attempt by another syndicate to export 10.40kg of skunk, concealed with scent leaves and pepper, to Nairobi, Kenya, on August 26th.
A suspect named Ekechukwu Sixtus Ndubuisi has been arrested in connection with this seizure.
In another incident, NDLEA operatives prevented the export of 180 cannisters of laughing gas to South Africa by a freight agent named Oyekola Gbenga Akeem, who was promised a fee of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000).
The cargo was seized, and the suspect was apprehended.
Furthermore, on August 25th, NDLEA operatives successfully arrested a drug kingpin named Ngene Emmanuel Onyedikachi.
This individual recruited a fake couple, Ilonzeh Kingsley Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Roseline Nonyelum, who were arrested for ingesting 1.822kg and 1.50kg of cocaine, respectively, at the Lagos airport on August 1st while en route to India.
The kingpin was captured at his residence in Akoka, Yaba, following an intensive 25-day surveillance operation.
During his interrogation, Onyedikachi confessed that he had been introduced to the two couriers by another syndicate member he had met at Zion Church in the Cele area of Lagos.
He revealed that the drugs were sourced from Guinea Conakry. After learning of the fake couple’s arrest, he disposed of his old mobile phone and SIM cards to avoid detection.
He also refused to leave his house, as the couriers did not know his address, having met with them only twice at different locations. Onyedikachi had previously lived in India before returning to Nigeria in 2022 after Indian authorities discovered his use of an Ivory Coast International passport.
A blue Acura Legend car was among the items recovered during his arrest.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives from the Lagos State Command arrested Peter Iwebema in Ikorodu with 79.5 bags of cannabis sativa, weighing a total of 864.5kg.
Simultaneously, their counterparts at the Tincan Port Command intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado weighing 13.5kg, hidden in a Ford Edge SUV within a container (MSMU 5664550) arriving from Toronto via Montreal, Canada.
This discovery was made during a joint examination with Customs Service personnel.
In Sokoto, on August 29th, NDLEA operatives arrested two male suspects, Nafiu Arzika (30) and Jamilu Aminu (35), with 330kg of skunk. Additionally, another suspect, Ismaila Razak (38), was apprehended on September 2nd in Olodo, Ibadan, with 34.5kg of the same substance and 9.5 grams of methamphetamine.
Across various states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA commands intensified the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns.
These efforts included sensitization lectures at various locations, including places of worship, schools, local communities, and more. Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the agency for their commitment to reducing drug supply and demand and urged them to remain steadfast in their mission.
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