Crime
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
By: Michael Mike
A 59-year old businessman could have lost his life while trying to smuggle 81 pellets of cocaine, which he had ingested, to Beirut, Lebanon.
The man, Chijioke Igbokwe was saved by a surgery, exploratory laparotomy, which freed him of 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine stuck in his stomach after seven days of ingesting the illicit substance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Igbokwe was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight on Sunday 26th January 2025.
He said Igbokwe was promptly taken for body scan, which revealed illicit drugs in his system, and was soon after taken into NDLEA custody for excretion observation.
Babafemi said investigation revealed that Igbokwe who claims to be into cloth business at Arena, Oshodi area of Lagos, departed Lagos on 22nd January to Addis Ababa where he ingested the 81 wraps of cocaine the following day 23rd January and boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon to deliver the illicit consignment for a fee of $3,000.
Upon his arrival in Beirut, he said he was refused entry because he had less than $2,000, the amount required to grant him entry. He was then deported to Addis Ababa where he attempted excreting the illicit drugs but could not. He thereafter proceeded to Lagos on Saturday 25th January with the consignment in his bowel. He was however arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers on 26th January.
After five days under excretion observation, he could only expel 24 pellets following initial medical intervention at the agency’s medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja.
Babafemi said with the clock ticking for him and the complication of other underlining medical conditions, the suspect was eventually admitted at the tertiary facility where he had to undergo exploratory laparotomy to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine stuck in his stomach after his wife and brother endorsed the necessary consent forms last Thursday.
In all, a total of 81 pellets of the Class A drug with a gross weight of 1.943 kilogrammes were alleged to have being recovered from his stomach.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos last Wednesday intercepted a consignment of 2,000 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis produced in Ghana, at Lekki beach, where two suspects: Sunday Awoyede and Christopher Cletus attempted loading them into a truck. The suspects, the skunk shipment and the van were immediately taken into custody. Another suspect, Lawal Idris Olasunkanmi was also arrested same day with 55 kilogrammes skunk during a raid at his base in Mushin area of Lagos.
Babafemi said across the country, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA Strategic Command for their vigilance and professionalism in handling Chijioke Igbokwe’s case, warned those involved in the illicit drug trade that they’re not only destroying the lives of others, but equally putting their own lives at great risk.
He equally applauded the Lagos State Strategic Command for blocking the huge consignment of skunk from coming into the country, and recognized the concerted efforts of their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA social advocacy lectures and sensitization activities to create a balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of the agency.
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
Troops foil attack on commuters, kill eight terrorists in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the 17 Brigade, Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in collaboration with hybrid forces, have foiled a planned terrorist attack on commuters along the Kakumi–Guga Road in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, neutralising eight suspected terrorists.
Security sources disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that armed terrorists loyal to a notorious kingpin, identified as Idi Abasu Aiki, were planning to attack motorists and other road users along the route.
According to the sources, the terrorists were sighted advancing towards the target area on five motorcycles, prompting troops and the hybrid forces to swiftly mobilise and establish a carefully coordinated ambush along their likely route.
The troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, during which eight of the assailants were neutralised.
Following the operation, the troops conducted exploitation of the area and recovered two AK-47 rifles and five motorcycles used by the terrorists.
The sources said troops have continued to dominate the general area through aggressive patrols and surveillance operations to forestall any retaliatory attacks against nearby communities and commuters.
The successful operation is part of ongoing efforts by Operation FANSAN YAMMA to deny terrorists freedom of movement and improve security across Katsina State and the wider North-West region.
Troops foil attack on commuters, kill eight terrorists in Katsina
Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Logistics Supplier with Motorcycle Tyres in Yobe
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of the 233 Tank Battalion, in collaboration with members of the Yobe State Hunters Group, have arrested a suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) logistics supplier in Damaturu Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Zarami Ali, 27, a native of Ngirya Village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, was arrested at about 1:30 p.m. on July 7 during an intelligence-led operation.
According to the sources, the suspect was found in possession of five motorcycle tyres, which preliminary investigation indicated were intended for delivery to Boko Haram fighters operating in Ngirya Village.
The recovered tyres and the suspect have been taken into the custody of the 233 Tank Battalion for further investigation and necessary action.
Military sources said the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts by Operation HADIN KAI to dismantle terrorist logistics networks by intercepting supplies destined for insurgent enclaves across the North-East.
They added that sustained intelligence-driven operations targeting logistics suppliers and collaborators have continued to disrupt the movement of materials essential to the operations of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.
Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Logistics Supplier with Motorcycle Tyres in Yobe
Troops Arrest Wanted Suspect, Recover AK-47 Rifle in Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a wanted criminal and recovered an AK-47 rifle with ammunition during an intelligence-led operation in Adamawa State.
Sources said that the suspect, Umar Sani, 27, was apprehended by troops of the 232 Battalion (Tactical) in collaboration with local hunters in Gombi Local Government Area.
According to the sources, preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspect had concealed an AK-47 rifle in his hometown of Kwashan, Toungo Local Government Area.
Acting on the information, troops deployed a patrol team to the community, where they recovered the assault rifle along with 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two AK-47 magazines.
The sources said the suspect and the recovered weapon had been taken into military custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.
They noted that the arrest was part of ongoing intelligence-driven operations by Operation HADIN KAI to disrupt criminal and terrorist networks operating within the North-East and adjoining areas.
Troops Arrest Wanted Suspect, Recover AK-47 Rifle in Adamawa
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