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NDLEA arrests port terminal operator, dock worker over 1,044.29kg Cocaine, Colos

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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

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Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

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Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspected kidnappers and rescued four victims held in captivity at Oke Aro, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states.

Police sources confirmed that one of the victims, Okorie Henry, managed to escape and reported the case at the Iju Police Division at about 3:30 p.m. on March 31. Henry told the police that he and four others had been forcefully taken into custody by a group of armed hoodlums.

He was able to convince his captors that he had received money in his account and needed to withdraw it at a bank. During the trip, he fled and alerted the authorities.

Following his report, a police team was mobilized to the scene, leading to the rescue of four victims: Otoh Chisom (20), Okeke Kwufrochukwu (26), Uchenna Obeji (26), and Minachi Udochukwu (12).

The police also arrested four suspects identified as Chibike Iheijika (23), Stanley Iheijika (22), Obiora Oyedibe (26), and Emmanuel Onedibe (25).

The command said investigations are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices and determine the full extent of the criminal operation.

Police Arrest Four Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Four Victims in Lagos-Ogun Border

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Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

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Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

By: Zagazola Makama

A group of approximately 90 armed bandits, riding on motorcycles, attempted to attack Tozai village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on March 31, 2025.

The bandits were confronted by a combined team of Military and Police forces, which engaged them in a gunfight, forcing the assailants to retreat.

Unfortunately, during the exchange of fire, a stray bullet from the bandits struck 35-year-old Sule Ummaru, a resident of Tozai village, who was attempting to escape the scene. He was rushed to General Hospital Isa but later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

Security forces have continued patrols in the area to ensure further safety and deter any future attacks.

Sokoto: Armed Bandits Repelled; Stray Bullet Kills Villager

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Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

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Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a Lekki-based businessman and proprietor of Damillionz Takeout, Arokodare Damil Ebenezer in connection with the shipment of 60 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, from the United States of America to Nigeria.

The spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said the 43-year-old businessman was arrested at Bay Lounge, Admiralty Way, Lekki area of Lagos where he does his illicit drug business last Monday while he was expecting to take the delivery of his latest drug consignment.

Babafemi said the suspect arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on 12th March by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation
(DOGI).

After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search during which 94 grammes of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered, bringing the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilogrammes.

In his statement, he claimed he started the illicit drug business in 2017.

Attempt by another businessman Omoruyi Terry to export 1,400 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 800 grammes to Italy has also been thwarted by NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Babafemi said Omoruyi was intercepted at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on his way to Italy via a Qatar Airways flight. Investigation reveals the suspect is an Italy based frequent traveler and logistics agent.

In Katsina, four suspects: Baraka Abubakar, 40; Haruna Alitine, 23; Muhammad Babangida, 20; and Hamisu Lawal, were arrested last Friday during an intelligence led raid operation at Godai village in Daura local government area where 684 blocks of compressed skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 423 kilogrammes and 86,000 pills of diazepam were recovered from them. The three male suspects were arrested while repackaging the diazepam tablets into other containers while Baraka, the female suspect was apprehended with the heaps of skunk in her house.

The NDLEA spokesman said not less than 13,198 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo forests across parts of the state between last Monday and Friday by NDLEA operatives who also evacuated 158 kilogrammes of same substance for possible prosecution.

He disclosed that the forests where no fewer than four cannabis plantations were discovered and destroyed include: Uhen forest, Ovia North East local government area. Sobe, Owan West local government area; and Amahor forest in Igueben local government area.

In Niger state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road last Friday intercepted a black Toyota Corolla car marked SLM 137 SV and arrested the two occupants in possession of 179 blocks of compressed skunk with a total weight of 77.6 kilogrammes concealed in false bottom of the vehicle. The two suspects are: Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Anumie. In another operation, 50 kilogrammes skunk was on Saturday recovered from the home of a suspect, Isa Iliya, who is currently at large, in Wawa village, Borgu council area of the state.

While 108.5kg of skunk was recovered from lockup shops at Aria New Market, in Enugu metropolis, Enugu state by NDLEA operatives last Tuesday, 25 kilogrammes of same substance was seized from a suspect Abdulrazak Saka at Kilako Area of Ilorin, Kwara State last Monday. Another suspect Sulk Saheed, 50, was nabbed with 2.5 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud and 515 grammes of Colorado, at Olomi Academy area of Ibadan, Oyo state.

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 MMIA, DOGI, Edo, Kwara, Niger, Enugu, Oyo and Katsina commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated. He extended eid-el-fitr greetings to them, their families, other stakeholders and Nigerians at large.

He added that: “May the spirit of obedience and sacrifice that defines this special day guide and strengthen us as we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a drug-free society. May Allah continue to bless and guide us and may our collective efforts bring us closer to a safer and healthier society for all.”

Businessman Arrested Over Illicit Drug Shipments from US into Nigeria

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