Crime
NDLEA arrests port terminal operator, dock worker over 1,044.29kg Cocaine, Colos
NDLEA arrests port terminal operator, dock worker over 1,044.29kg Cocaine, Colos
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have begun to unmask members of an organized criminal network behind the recent importation of two containers laden with illicit drugs as well as assorted arms and ammunition from Durban, South Africa to the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
A press statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said among those already arrested as members of the syndicate are: a clearing and notify party of the two containers, Falowo Kayode; a dock worker, Anjorin Idowu and Uzairu Iguda who is in charge of the five star terminal at the port. Another dock worker at the terminal, Mohammed Sule (alias organizer) who is equally linked to the syndicate is currently at large.
Babafemi said based on credible intelligence, the agency had requested for a 100 percent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa. As a result, the exercise was conducted with other stakeholders on 18th and 19th of January, 2024 during which 56.39 kilogrammes cocaine and 795 kilogrammes Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis among other illegal items were recovered from the containers.
He said following a tasking order by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Retd) to a combined team of specialized units of the agency to unravel those behind the importation of the large consignments of the illicit drugs, ongoing investigations have led to the discovery of more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7 kilogrammes, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition removed from the container, MSCU 4581770 and hidden in an empty container before the 100 percent joint examination at the five star terminal.
He said as a result, two suspects: Uzairu Iguda who is in charge of the terminal’s container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu who is a dock worker in the terminal have been arrested. Another suspect, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer) now at large, is also a dock worker in the terminal. Investigations revealed that the three suspects conspired with the agent and notify party, Falowo Kayode to remove the 192.7 kilogrammes Colorado, pistol and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container in the terminal.
He noted that the latest seizure brings the total recovered from the two containers to 56.39 kilogrammes of cocaine and 987.9 kilogrammes of Colorado with a combined weight of 1,044.29 kilogrammes .
He added that investigations have also revealed three kingpins believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers are Odeyemi Taiwo; Akinyemi Olayinka and Adebayo Adewole who are now on the agency’s wanted list.
In Edo state, NDLEA officers last Tuesday 20th raided a drug joint under powerline off Etete road, GRA Benin city where they arrested a salesgirl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs. A follow up operation the following day led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani who is the Commander, Arewa Association Vigilantes in the area.
A consignment of 179 kilogrammes cannabis was recovered by operatives at Badagry Waterside, Lagos last Wednesday, while a 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro was nabbed last at Magbon, Ogun state with 57 kilogrammes cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.
In Borno, a 25-year-old lady, Zara Mele was arrested with quantities of cocaine and heroin at Baga checkpoint last Tuesday, while Usman Shuaibu, 26, and Mohammed Lawan, 22, were also nabbed with quantities of the same class A drug at Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri the same day respectively.
Babafemi said no less than 44,820 pills of opioids being taken to Zamfara state by Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, were intercepted along Jega-Sokoto road by NDLEA officers in Kebbi state, while a farmer Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was arrested in his farm where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilogrammes at Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi local government area of Kaduna state.
Two suspects: Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37 kilogrammes were intercepted by NDLEA officers along Kwali-Gwagwalada express road, Abuja on Monday 19th Feb, while one Michael Okefi was arrested at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the suspected actual owner, Osinachi Jasper.
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Babafemi also revealed that at least 540 grammes of cocaine concealed in canvas shoes heading to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos last Friday by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI.
Equally, a consignment of tramadol 225mg hidden in ladies headgear going to the United Kingdom was also seized same day at the courier house, while another parcel containing ecstasy concealed in body cream container meant for Cyprus was also intercepted.
In Kano state, different quantities of opioids and other illicit drugs were recovered from at least 12 young men arrested in parts of Kano between Monday 19th and Friday 23rd February. Some of the suspects include: Yusuf Abdullahi,20; Usman Muhammed,18; Sadiq Jibrin, 20; Ibrahim Lawan, 25; Ukasha Usaini,19; Sahabi Lamini,15; Isiyaka Mohammed, 28; Bashir Ayuba, 36; Ahmad Idris,18; Abubakar Sani,29; Bashir Mohammed, 21 and Udochukwu Ezekiel, 35.
He said NDLEA Commands across the country continued to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy lectures.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has applauded officers of the agency across the country for continued arrest of drug traffickers and intensifying the WADA advocacy lectures, thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
NDLEA arrests port terminal operator, dock worker over 1,044.29kg Cocaine, Colos
Sokoto mother arrested for kidnapping 4-year-old son in Kebbi
By: Zagazola Makama
A four-year-old boy has been rescued unhurt after being kidnapped in Koko Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while the mother was arrested for allegedly orchestrating the abduction.
Zagazola learnt that the victim, Abdulmumini Surajo, went missing on Nov. 26, 2025. Later that day, the father received a call from an unknown female voice demanding a ransom of five million naira (₦5,000,000).
Police detectives traced the call and identified the caller as Maryam Muhammad, 25, a married woman from the same area. She was promptly arrested and confessed to the crime.
The boy was rescued on Nov. 29, 2025, at about 6:08 p.m. in Mahuta, Fakai Local Government Area.
Sokoto mother arrested for kidnapping 4-year-old son in Kebbi
Police repel Boko Haram attack in Konduga, launch manhunt for abductors
By: Zagazola Makama
The Borno Police Command says its operatives have repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on Malari village in Konduga Local Government Area, while a joint search-and-rescue operation is underway to free three abducted farmers.
Sources said the incident occurred on Nov. 30 at about 12:00 p.m. when the terrorists, riding on more than 15 motorcycles, invaded the community and opened fire.
During the attack, a 15-year-old boy, Basha Goigoi of Muna, was shot in the right thigh and rushed to the General Hospital, Maiduguri, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The assailants also abducted three residents identified as Alhaji Kundili (35), Baba Goni (45) and Modu Baluye (50), all of Malari village, while they were working on their farms.
The Police Crack Squad deployed in Konduga responded swiftly, engaging the terrorists in a gun battle and successfully repelling the attack.
A combined team comprising the troops of Operation HADIN KAI, police tactical squads, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters has since launched a coordinated operation to track the attackers and rescue the abducted victims.
Security forces urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely information to security agencies to aid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in the area.
Police repel Boko Haram attack in Konduga, launch manhunt for abductors
NDLEA uncovers illicit drugs packaged as Christmas cookies, arrests distributors in Lagos
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a social media network used to distribute illicit substances packaged as imported Christmas cookies and snacks.
The two masterminds of the initiative were also arrested and taken into custody after a raid on their hideout in Lekki area of Lagos.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the drug syndicate run by the duo of Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi had imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and a variety of colourful designer sachets with pictures and labels of cookies and snacks printed on them, and used to package the psychoactive substance in retail quantities.
Babafemi said following credible intelligence about the activities of the syndicate which operates and distributes through a WhatsApp platform, NDLEA operatives on Saturday raided their apartment at Ojulari street, Ikate area of Lekki where a large quantity of the designer sachets and 5 kilogrammes of Loud were recovered from them at the point of their arrest.
He said in another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Thursday arrested a 38-year-old drug kingpin Philip Ucheka while taking delivery of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6 kilogrammes at Ladipo area of Mushin. He added that at the point of his arrest, three delivery vehicles were also seized from him.
The spokesman said at a courier company in Lagos, 100 grammes of Loud concealed in teddy bear imported from Thailand were intercepted last Thursday while a consignment of 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in bottles of Vitamin C and Magnesium going to the United Kingdom were recovered at another logistics firm the following day.
In Oyo state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Lagos -Ibadan expressway on Saturday m nabbed a suspect Wasiu Kareem, 55, with 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 590 bottles of codeine syrup; 1,500 pills of Co-codamol and 9,900 capsules of tramadol.
He said no fewer than seven suspects were arrested last Monday when NDLEA operatives raided the Ipe forest in Akoko South East area of Ondo State where they recovered 3,077 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis. Those arrested include: John Ede; Ede Ndubuisi; Ikenna Abe; Eze Chukwuma; Maduabuchi Odo; Nnaji Chudubem and Gorge Okowor.
He said while Anthony Sylvester, 49, was arrested along Okene/Lokoja highway Kogi state conveying 649 kilogrammes skunk in a truck last Wednesday, NDLEA officers at the Seme Special Area Command on Friday raided a warehouse at Ashipa, Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos where they arrested a suspect Abubakar Shuaibu, 33, with 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5 kilogrammes.
In Kano, Tsalha Alasan, 47, was arrested along Zaria-Kano road with 137 kilogrammes skunk last Monday, while three suspects: Godspower Appeal, 50; Ernest Upong, 55; and Godday Chukwudi, 38, were nabbed last Wednesday with 322 blocks of skunk weighing 209 kilogrammes at Fanshanu village, Toro local government area, Bauchi state. A black Toyota Highlander jeep marked ABJ 533 EA used in conveying the consignment was also recovered from them.
A suspect John Ekojo, 51, was arrested with 210.15 kilogrammes skunk along Abuja/Jos highway on Saturday, while a couple: Abubakar Abdullahi, 45, and Jamila Abdullahi, 35, were nabbed along Abuja/Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize just as another suspect Awwal Sabiu, 20, was caught with 400 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition at Abuja/Kaduna tollgate on Friday.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), while commending the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Seme and Bauchi commands for the various successful operations, enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
NDLEA uncovers illicit drugs packaged as Christmas cookies, arrests distributors in Lagos
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