Connect with us

Crime

India-bound drug trafficker bags 25 years imprisonment

Published

on

India-bound drug trafficker bags 25 years imprisonment

By: Michael Mike

A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced Freeman Charles Ogbonna, to 25 years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

Ogbonna was sentenced three months after vomiting and excreting 80 wraps of cocaine following his arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He was arrested on Sunday 31st March while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name: Carr Bismark. He was taken for body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.

Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort. Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.

The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.

Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.

He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Dipeolu Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos in charge number FHCL/378/2024 for committing an offence contrary to section 20(1)(b) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004.

Delivering his judgement on the case on Monday, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without an option of fine.

Reacting to the outcome of the case, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for a fast and diligent handling of the case, adding that the judiciary remains a strong pillar in the coordinated and concerted effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

He said Ogbonna’s conviction will further send a strong signal to his ilk that there will be no hiding place for drug barons and their mules.

India-bound drug trafficker bags 25 years imprisonment

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma neutralise three bandits in Katsina

Published

on

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma neutralise three bandits in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma have neutralised three suspected armed bandits during a gun battle in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Military sources told Zagazola Makama the incident occurred on March 4 at about 4:14 p.m. when the bandits attacked a farmer, Alaramma Lawal Musa, 34, from Barkinshi Village, while he was on his way to his farm on the outskirts of the community.

The sources said the victim resisted the attack and managed to stab one of the assailants with a knife before the bandits inflicted serious machete cuts on him.

Troops stationed at Super Camp Machika were immediately alerted and swiftly mobilised to the scene. “On arrival, the troops intercepted the fleeing bandits and engaged them in a gun duel.

“During the exchange of fire, three of the suspected bandits were neutralised, while others escaped into nearby bushes,” the source said.

He added that troops recovered one Honda motorcycle believed to have been used by the bandits for their operations in the area.

The injured farmer was evacuated to the Comprehensive Hospital in Dandume for medical attention and was reported to be responding to treatment.

Security operatives have since intensified patrol and surveillance in the area to track down other fleeing members of the gang.

Operation Fansan Yanma has sustained military offensive against banditry and other criminal activities across the North-West region.

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma neutralise three bandits in Katsina

Continue Reading

Crime

Police foil abduction in Kano, one killed

Published

on

Police foil abduction in Kano, one killed

By: Zagazola Makama

Security operatives have foiled an abduction attempt in Rantan Village, Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, rescuing two victims, while one person lost his life during the incident.

Security sources told Zagazola that the attack occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on March 2, following a distress call from a resident.

According to the source, about 15 armed hoodlums invaded the residence of one Fulani Bakwai and abducted him alongside his neighbour, Mohd Bello.

“In the course of the attack, the assailants shot Musa Mohd Bello, 25, on the left leg when he attempted to resist,” the source said.

Operatives, in collaboration with local vigilante members, swiftly mobilised to the scene and pursued the suspects.

The joint team successfully rescued the abducted victims as the suspects fled into nearby bushes.

The injured victim was rushed to Tiga General Hospital for medical attention but was later certified dead.

His remains were subsequently released to his family for burial.

Authorities said normalcy had been restored in the area, while efforts were being intensified to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Police foil abduction in Kano, one killed

Continue Reading

Crime

Two additional ISWAP prominent Qaids neutralised in Sambisa air strikes

Published

on

Two additional ISWAP prominent Qaids neutralised in Sambisa air strikes

By: Zagazola Makama

Two additional prominent qaids of the ISWAP have been confirmed neutralised in the recent precision air strikes conducted at Yuwe in the Sambisa general area of Borno.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the two senior terrorist leaders killed in the strikes are Ali G3, identified as the qaid in charge of Yuwe, and Abdullahi Muga, also a qaid within the group’s command structure.

Their deaths come after initial reports confirmed the neutralisation of other key figures, including Saddam and Saleh Garin Kago, both described as senior commanders, as well as Hussaini Ubaida and Ba Alayi Benbem.

The air interdiction mission was carried out by the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI at about 6:08 a.m. on Friday following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) on structures identified as terrorist command hideouts and logistics warehouses within the Yuwe axis.

“Upon confirmation of the targets, the aircraft acquired and engaged the selected objectives with precision-guided munitions,” a source said.

Post-strike battle damage assessment indicated that the identified command hubs and logistics facilities were effectively destroyed, significantly degrading the operational capacity of the terrorists in the Sambisa corridor.

The sources added that the earlier-mentioned commanders have also been confirmed dead, while efforts are underway to obtain the identities of other prominent qaids and ISWAP commanders believed to have been neutralised during the operation.

Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at dismantling terrorist leadership structures and consolidating recent gains in the North-East.

Two additional ISWAP prominent Qaids neutralised in Sambisa air strikes

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights