Crime
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a member of Lagos major drug syndicate, a 56-year-old, Lawal Oyenuga who was on a mission to deliver 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in a pair of palm sandals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Orenuga’s arrest led to a swift follow up arrest of a wanted notorious kingpin, Wasiu Gbolahan popularly known as Teacher, who is notorious for the recruitment of mules for the cartel.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said operatives of the anti-narcotics agency attached to the screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Thursday 24th November intercepted Oyenuga with a pair of black palm sandals packed in the luggage he was going with to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airways flight.
Babafemi disclosed that a thorough examination of the sandals revealed they were used to conceal two parcels of cocaine weighing 400 grammes, noting that this was barely a week after a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, Mrs. Ajisegiri Sidika was arrested at the airport over her attempt to traffic 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in her footwear to Makkah, Saudi Arabia on board a Qatar Airways flight.
The spokesman said Oyenuga in his statement claimed he was recruited to traffic the drug by Wasiu Gbolahan popularly known as Teacher, adding that he was first given some pellets of cocaine to swallow but when he couldn’t do that, he was given the ones concealed in the palm sandals.
He confessed to have resorted to the criminal trade to raise money to pay an examination fee for his daughter who is in Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3.
Babafemi said the agency’s database revealed that Wasiu Sanni (Teacher) has been linked to some previous attempts to traffic cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE, and had been fingered as the one who recruited a BRT driver, Bolajoko Babalola for Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) to traffic drugs to Dubai.
Bolajoko was arrested on 27th June while taking 900 grammes of cocaine to Dubai while Ademola Kazeem was nabbed on Thursday 10th November, barely 10 days after he was declared wanted by NDLEA.
Babafemi said a follow up operation in the early hours of last Friday led to the arrest of the kingpin, Teacher, who specialises in recruiting mules for drug barons in Lagos and its environs at his residence located in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The 64-year-old Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan is a housing and property agent, with seven children and four wives, one of whom is now late.
He also revealed that in another follow up operation to the seizure of 1.1 kilogrammes cannabis concealed in bottles of body cream going to Dubai on 9th September, the actual owner of the consignment, Wordu Chukwuemeka who runs a boutique business in Port Harcourt, Rivers state was arrested in the Garden City last Thursday.
In the same vein, operatives attached to NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport on last Tuesday intercepted a consolidated cargo from Johannesburg, South Africa via an Airpeace Airline flight.
The cargo contained different items, including cloths, cereals, baby toys, drinks, and a set of two big black speakers, which were used to conceal 25 parcels of Loud variant of cannabis, with a gross weight of 5.5 kilogrammes.
Similarly, operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed of the airport same Tuesday intercepted a carton of food items used to conceal 500 grams of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE while the owner, Uzoma Kingsley was promptly arrested.
Babafemi said in a related development, attempt by an Organised Criminal Group to traffic 131 kilogrammes of Ephedrine, a dominant precursor chemical for the production of Methamphetamine to Congo Kinshasa through the SAHCO export shed of the airport was foiled on Monday 21st November by NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He said the two freight agents: Nwazuru Georgewill and Saheed Muritala linked to the bid were promptly arrested.
He said an attempt by a drug trafficker, Udogwu Johnson, facing multiple charges of drug offences to flee the country after he jumped bail has been thwarted by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport where he was arrested last Friday.
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He said the 51-year-old suspect was already facing trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos before he was arrested again on Saturday 9th April in Port Harcourt for importing 5.48kg cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He was granted bail by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday 23rd November over his latest offence while the Lagos court had issued a warrant of arrest against him for jumping bail over his case in Lagos.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the move by a Brazilian returnee, Iroegbute Francis, 46, to smuggle 4 kilogrammes cocaine soaked in towels stuffed in his hand luggage into the country was foiled on Thursday 24th Nov by NDLEA officers who arrested him, upon his arrival on a Qatar Airline flight from Brazil -Doha-Abuja.
According to Babafemi, no fewer than 5,851.3 kilogrammes (5.8 tons) of cannabis sativa were seized from dealers across five states in the past week, including a notorious cripple, Ibrahim Yusuf, 45, who was arrested on Monday 21st November at Gasline, Ifo, Ogun state with 4 kilogrammes of the psychotropic substance, while a total of 36 bags weighing 570 kilogrammes of the same substance were recovered in another raid at a forest in Ogunmakin town, Obafemi Owode local government area.
In Edo, operatives last Tuesday evacuated 141 bags of cannabis sativa with a gross weight of 1,884 kilogrammes (about 1.9 tons) stored in a warehouse in Okpe forest, Akoko Edo local government area, while last Thursday, NDLEA officers arrested Ismaila Abubakar, 50, at Okada junction, Ovia South West local government area with 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 216.5 kilogrammes, and a day after, operatives also seized 112 bags of cannabis sativa stored in Obi Camp forest, Ovia South West local government area weighing 1,512 kilogrammes.
He said this was also followed by another seizure of 45 bags that weighed 529.5 kilogrammes while officers equally intercepted a Toyota Sienna bus with Reg. No. BDG 598 FZ (Lagos) loaded with 566.5 kilogrammes cannabis going to Onitsha, Anambra State, and a suspect, Sunday Mathias, 30, arrested with the seizure.
In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives stormed Oke-Ogun forest last Friday where Onyebuchi Chime was arrested with 88 kilogrammes cannabis, a gun and some ammunition while they also recovered 149.5 kilogrammes of the substance at Ipele forest. Not less than 12.42 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed and 195 kilogrammes processed weeds of the substance recovered at Efon Alaye, Ekiti state where two dealers: Richard Ebong and Nze Abraham were arrested on Saturday.
In Oyo state, operatives arrested a 27-year-old Mrs. Adebayo Rahmat last Thursday at Sabo-Ilupeju, Atiba local government area, with 136.3 kilogrammes cannabis, while no fewer than 84,000 pills of tramadol tablets were recovered from a suspect, Muhsin Abdullahi in Bodinga area of Sokoto state same day. Also 16,000 pills of Exol-5 and D5 concealed in palm oil were seized from Lawal Rabe, 24, last Friday at Kokami village, Danta local government area, Katsina while a total of 54,500 tablets of tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from the duo of Basiru Muhammadu and Saidu Yusuf in the same area on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, NAIA, PHIA, Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Katsina and Oyo Commands of the agency for their professionalism in the discharge of their duties and the remarkable results that followed.
He however enjoined them and their compatriots across the country not to let down their guards as the nation approaches the festive season.
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
Abuja Drug Crackdown: NDLEA Dismantles Major Bunks, Arrests 132, Seizes 220kg Illicit Drugs
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria’s anti-narcotics war recorded a major breakthrough in the Federal Capital Territory as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) dismantled multiple drug hubs across Abuja and its outskirts, arresting 132 suspects and recovering over 220 kilogrammes of illicit substances in a sweeping two-week offensive.
The operation, described as one of the most coordinated crackdowns in recent months, was executed between April 11 and 25 by operatives of the Agency’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation in collaboration with the FCT Strategic Command.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the clear out followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance targeting entrenched drug networks fueling substance abuse and criminality in the nation’s capital.
He said the raids cut across some of Abuja’s most notorious hotspots, including Torabora Hills, Area 3, Gwarinpa, AYA, Durumi, Banex, Dei-Dei, Kubwa, Apo, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Wuse Zone 4, Garki Area 10, Jabi, and the Suleja axis, where heavily fortified drug joints and distribution points were uncovered and dismantled.
A breakdown of seizures revealed a dominant cache of 214.79 kilogrammes of skunk, alongside significant quantities of controlled and hard drugs, including Diazepam, Exol, Tramadol, Mogadon, Cocaine, Rohypnol, Methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and bottles of codeine syrup—substances authorities said are widely abused and linked to rising cases of addiction and violent crime.
The agency disclosed that operatives encountered stiff resistance in parts of Durumi Area 1 and the Suleja market axis, where suspected traffickers attempted to repel the raids. However, the superior coordination and tactical response of NDLEA officers neutralized the threats and dismantled the networks without casualties.
Briefing the agency’s leadership, Director of Operations and General Investigation, Ahmed Sule Ningi, praised the discipline and professionalism of the operatives, stressing that sustained enforcement is critical to consolidating the gains achieved and preventing a resurgence of drug networks.
Reacting to the outcome, NDLEA Chairman, commended the officers involved and described the operation as a decisive step toward reclaiming Abuja from the grip of drug syndicates. He ordered the immediate replication of the operational strategy across other high-risk urban centres, signaling a broader national offensive against illicit drug trade.
Marwa emphasized that dismantling supply chains must go hand in hand with efforts to reduce demand, warning that drug cartels would continue to face sustained pressure as the agency intensifies its nationwide crackdown.
The latest operation underscores growing urgency by authorities to confront Nigeria’s deepening drug problem, with Abuja increasingly identified as a strategic hub for distribution networks.
Abuja Drug Crackdown: NDLEA Dismantles Major Bunks, Arrests 132, Seizes 220kg Illicit Drugs
Security Forces Arrest Three Suspected Lakurawa Bandits, Recover Arms in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have arrested three suspected members of a banditry syndicate and recovered arms and ammunition in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Security sources told Zagazola that the suspects were apprehended at about 10:00 a.m. on April 29 along the Tangaza–Gidan Madi road following credible intelligence on a planned attack within the area.
The sources identified the suspects as Aliyu Bello, 30; Dahiru Umar, 25; and Bashar Isah, 29, all natives of Kwazari village in Kware Local Government Area.
According to the sources, the suspects were intercepted while riding on a motorcycle and were found to be members of a syndicate involved in kidnapping and imposing levies on communities.
Items recovered from them include a locally fabricated AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, two Dane guns, two cartridges of 32g calibre and assorted charms.
The sources added that the suspects concealed the weapons in a sack hidden within another bag to evade detection.
They said investigations were ongoing to unravel the network and prevent further criminal activities in the area.
Security Forces Arrest Three Suspected Lakurawa Bandits, Recover Arms in Sokoto
Troops Neutralise Five Terrorists in Ambush Operation in North-East
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North-East), Operation HADIN KAI, have neutralised five suspected terrorists during a successful ambush operation conducted in Borno State.
Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out on April 29 by troops deployed at a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the Mayanti area, as part of ongoing offensive operations under Operation Desert Sanity.
According to the sources, the troops had laid an ambush at a strategic location based on credible intelligence before coming into contact with a group of insurgents later in the evening.
“The troops engaged the terrorists effectively upon contact, resulting in the neutralisation of five of them,” the source said.
Items recovered from the scene include two bicycles, fabric materials and food supplies, believed to have been used for logistics by the fleeing insurgents.
The troops have since redeployed to another tactical position to continue offensive operations and deny the terrorists freedom of movement within the area.
Military authorities said the morale and fighting efficiency of the troops remain high, as operations continue to sustain pressure on insurgent elements across the North-East theatre.
Operation HADIN KAI has in recent months intensified clearance and ambush operations aimed at degrading terrorist capabilities and restoring normalcy to affected communities in the region.
Troops Neutralise Five Terrorists in Ambush Operation in North-East
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