Crime
Iran-bound businessman ingest 53 wraps of cocaine at Port Harcourt airport
Iran-bound businessman ingest 53 wraps of cocaine at Port Harcourt airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested at the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA) another businessman, 44-year-old Ezemokwe Chukwuebuka for ingesting 53 wraps of cocaine while on his way to Tehran Khomeini, Islamic Republic of Iran.
This is barely two weeks after a 60-year-old businessman Chinedu Okigbo heading to Iran with 65 pellets of cocaine in his stomach was caught at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said Ezemokwe was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday 7th June while trying to board Qatar Airways flight QR1434 flying to Tehran Khomeini in Iran via Doha. After a body scan proved positive to ingestion of illicit drug, he was placed on excretion observation during which he expelled 53 wraps of cocaine in six excretions with a total weight of 1.172 kilogrammes.
He said the suspect claimed to have gone into the criminal trade two years ago, moving between the West African sub-region and Iran.
He disclosed that similarly NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos in the early hours of Saturday intercepted an Italy bound passenger Edobor Ali on an Air France flight.
He noted that the NDLEA officers in collaboration with the Aviation Security of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), discovered drug consignments hidden in the luggage of the suspect during baggage scanning at the tarmac.
He said the suspect was thereafter brought down from the aircraft for baggage identification after which a thorough search of the bag led to the discovery of 14,410 pills of tramadol 225mg and 200mg concealed in winter jackets.
In his statement, Ebodor said he lives in Italy where he was hired and sent on the all expense paid trip to Nigeria to courier the drug consignments to Milan, Italy for a fee of 2000 Euros.
Babafemi said at the Port Harcourt Ports in Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a shipment of 157,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value, during a joint examination of a watch-listed container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies. The opioid consignments were hidden behind 257 cartons of ceramic sanitary wares.
He said at least, three suspects: Friday Achibong, 47; Abraham Anthony, 21; and Utibe Okon, 24, were arrested last Thursday 12th June when NDLEA operatives raided a warehouse in Obereakai, Odukpani local government area, Cross River state, where a total of 2,687 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, was recovered.
He added that same day in Bauchi state, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence, arrested the duo of Iriemi Imonikhe, 49, and Sa’idu Ladan, 30, along Bauchi -Jos road after 195 blocks of skunk weighing 287 kilogrammes were discovered in their Toyota Camry car marked AKL 201 GG.
He said while 14 jumbo sacks of skunk weighing 560 kilogrammes were recovered from a wooden boat at Oniru beach in Lagos by operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA last Thursday, officers of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Maiduguri same day arrested two businessmen: Ishaku Abdullahi, 30; and Buba Usman, 32, at the arrival hall of the domestic wing of the airport with various quantities of ecstacy pills and skunk packaged in fanciful wraps labelled as ‘Lychee’ and ‘Porro Legal’
Babafemi said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHIA, MBIAM, PHPC, Marine, Cross River, and Bauchi commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, praised their compatriots in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Iran-bound businessman ingest 53 wraps of cocaine at Port Harcourt airport
Troops neutralise 15 terrorists, destroy logistics hub in Gujba in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V have neutralised 15 terrorists and destroyed a suspected logistics base during a precision operation around Lamusheri Village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state.
Military sources told Zagazola that the early morning operation on Feb. 22 followed weeks of intelligence gathering supported by satellite imagery and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance air platforms, which identified the location as a terrorist attack launch point and logistics hub.
According to the sources, troops, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, came under fire while approaching the target but tactically outflanked the insurgents and cut off their escape routes.
During the ensuing firefight, 15 terrorists were neutralised, while several others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
Security personnel also discovered extensive defensive structures at the site and destroyed all identified life-support facilities used by the group.
In addition, five tricycles and two vehicles allegedly used for attacks and logistics were destroyed and set ablaze with their contents.
Recovered items included a cache of arms and ammunition, as well as two bandoliers and carmel pouches.
The military said two personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the operation but were in stable condition, adding that the general security situation in the area remained calm but unpredictable, while troop morale and combat efficiency remained high.
Troops neutralise 15 terrorists, destroy logistics hub in Gujba in Yobe
One killed, another injured as Lakurawa bandits attack cattle range in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
One person has been killed and another injured following an attack by suspected Lakurawa armed bandits on a cattle range on the outskirts of Tangaza along the Nigeria–Niger border in Sokoto State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 20 at about 9:15 p.m., when a large group of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons reportedly stormed the area, opening fire on residents.
Army Forward Operating Base, and other security forces were swiftly mobilized to the scene. The troops confirmed that one Yahaya Al-Hassan, 30, was shot dead, while Bello Muhammad sustained a gunshot injury to his left leg.
The attackers reportedly rustled an unspecified number of domestic animals before fleeing into a nearby forest. The deceased and the injured victim were evacuated to the General Hospital Tangaza for autopsy and treatment.
The troops said efforts were being intensified to apprehend the assailants and recover the stolen livestock. Confidence-building patrols by joint security teams are ongoing in the area to reassure residents and prevent further attacks.
One killed, another injured as Lakurawa bandits attack cattle range in Sokoto
Bandits abduct villagers, rustle cattle in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have abducted several villagers and rustled an unspecified number of cattle following an attack on Kuya village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 21 at about 12:00 p.m., when armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons stormed the village via Kekun Waje district.
The assailants reportedly abducted an unknown number of residents and drove away a yet-to-be-quantified number of cattle to an unknown location.
The sources said the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were immediately deployed to pursue the bandits, with efforts focused on rescuing the abducted victims and recovering the stolen livestock.
Security forces have intensified operations in the area to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.
Bandits abduct villagers, rustle cattle in Zamfara
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