Crime
NDLEA arrests drug baron with 103 bank accounts, indicts Abba Kyari’s team
NDLEA arrests drug baron with 103 bank accounts, indicts Abba Kyari’s team
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a suspected drug baron, Afam Emmanuel Ukatu, said to be behind the N3billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team.
Aside from the N3 billion tramadol deal, the suspect is said to be operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, titled, ‘NDLEA arrests drug baron behind N3billion Tramadol linked to Abba Kyaris team’.
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Babafemi said the suspect owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
He noted that the NDLEA officials arrested Ukatu on Wednesday 13th April on board a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja.
Babafemi explained that Ukatu is the Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies.
The statement read, “Investigations reveal he’s been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit. Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.
“Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos. The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18million and N20million a carton in Lagos.
“After the arrest of Ukatu’s staff: Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete, Kyaris men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team. The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3billion.
“Three weeks after the seizure, the Kyaris IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for.
“After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022. Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja.”
Troops raid criminal hideout, rescue kidnapped victim in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, have raided a criminal hideout in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, neutralising several criminals, rescuing a kidnapped victim and recovering arms, ammunition and motorcycles.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out on Tuesday following credible intelligence on the activities of criminal elements operating within the area.
During the raid, the troops reportedly engaged the criminals in a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of four suspects, while others fled the scene with possible injuries.
Items recovered from the hideout included one fabricated rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles.
Preliminary findings indicated that the neutralised suspects were members of a criminal syndicate responsible for attacks along the Ganawuri–Manchok corridor.
In a related development, the troops were said to have responded swiftly to information on the abduction of a young woman, Miss Immaculate Samuel, who was kidnapped on the night of Jan. 13 at Kajim Village, also in Kaura LGA.
The troops mobilised and pursued the kidnappers, leading to another exchange of gunfire during which three of the suspects were neutralised, while the victim was rescued unharmed.
The rescued victim was subsequently debriefed and reunited with her family.
Security forces said troops had continued to dominate the general area in order to track down and apprehend other members of the criminal group and restore normalcy to affected communities.
Troops raid criminal hideout, rescue kidnapped victim in Kaduna
Bandits abduct police officer, three others on Gusau–Sokoto highway
By: Zagazola Makama
A police officer and three other persons have been abducted by suspected bandits along the Gusau–Sokoto highway in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident occurred on Friday at about 1:10 p.m. when a group of armed men blocked the highway around Gidan Kano village and forcibly took four people away.
One of the victims has been identified as PC Gaddafi Faruku, while the identities of the three others have not been disclosed. The abducted persons were reportedly taken to an unknown location by the assailants.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the abductors and secure the safe release of the victims. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and provide any information that could help in locating those taken.
Bandits abduct police officer, three others on Gusau–Sokoto highway
Bandits kill one, abduct 10, rustle cattle in Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
A deadly bandit attack has left one person dead, 10 others abducted, and several cattle rustled in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Monday when a large number of armed men, shooting sporadically, stormed Gidan Yawa and Lamuntani villages via Gulubba District.
During the raid, a 32-year-old man, Abdullahi Sani, was shot dead. The assailants then abducted 10 residents and rustled eight cows before fleeing to an unknown location.
Efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing suspects and secure the release of the abducted victims. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist in locating the attackers.
Bandits kill one, abduct 10, rustle cattle in Zamfara community
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