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NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers

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NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers

NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted at the nation’s three major airports of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt large consignments of cocaine which Brazil based drug cartels tried smuggling into the country.

According to the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi arrested were seven traffickers in the smashes.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman said at the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on Saturday 9th April. Three of them were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt. 

He said the three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on board same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96 kilogrammes of cocaine. 

Babafemi sad the first is 51-year-old Udogwu Johnson who was arrested with 5.48 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1 million. 

He said also arrested is Ezekwueme Valentine, 32, who was caught with 10.82 kilogrammes cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets, while the third trafficker, Chiezie Ikechukwu Arinze, 35, was arrested with 8.66 kilogrammes cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver colour 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top.

The fourth suspect, Uchechukwu Onwugbufor, 42, according to him, was arrested at the airport car park while waiting to receive one of the traffickers, Udogwu James and his consignment. He claimed he was contacted by someone in Brazil to receive Udogwu and lead him to Lagos for a fee of N100,000. Uchechukwu Onwugbufor was at the Airport with his neigbour, Nwogu Ezimadu, who is equally being investigated to determine if he is complicit in the crime or not.

He said at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a Psychology graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, Sebastine Kelvin, 30, was arrested with 74 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.454 kilogrammes on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight enroute Doula- Addis Ababa-Abuja last Wednesday. 

He said the father of one who claims he is a motor spare parts dealer, said he lived in Cameroon for six years before going into the drug business to raise money to boost his trade. He added that he was introduced to the man who gave him the drugs at Addis Ababa by another person serving jail term for drug offence at the Doula Newbell Prison.

Also Read: Wamakko bags NDLEA Wider Ambassador Award

Babafemi said in Lagos, another Brazil based passenger, Uba Samuel was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, by NDLEA operatives last Friday on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Sao Paulo via Addis Ababa to Lagos with sachets of cocaine weighing 633 grammes concealed in his footwear and toothpaste tube.

The suspect who claims to be a shoemaker and barber, while accepting ownership of the drug, said he used his shoe making knowledge to conceal the drug in his pair of sandals. Uba who is a regular traveller confessed he bought the drug to sell at a market in Abia

In other clampdown, more illicit substances were recovered in raid operations in other parts of the country. In Gadaka village of Fika local government area, Yobe state, operatives arrested one Hassan Usman with a total of 22,110 tablets of Tramadol, D5 and Exol 5, while one Ali Mohammed was nabbed in a commercial vehicle coming from Kano to Maiduguri with 40 blocks of cannabis weighing 33 kilogrammes. Also arrested on the Kano-Maiduguri route was a driver Ibrahim Khalil Idris with 60 packets of Tramadol, all on Tuesday 12th April. 

In Kogi state, 750 blocks of cannabis weighing 750 kilogrammes were seized from two suspects: Hassan Adamu, 25, and Abdulmalik Abdullahi, 24, along Okene-Abuja highway. The drug exhibits were concealed inside fabricated panels of a Ford bus. 

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the PHIA, NAIA, MMIA, Yobe, and Kogi Commands of the agency for disrupting desperate attempts by drug cartels to traffic dangerous drugs into Nigeria and across the country. He said the huge seizures at the airports will send a strong message to drug barons that Nigeria will no longer be their safe destination or transit route.

NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers

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Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

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Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

By: Our Reporter

Two suspected bandits were killed during an attempt to test Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at a camp reportedly established by the notorious extremist leader, Bello Turji, in Zamfara State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in Barikin Daji Village and Dan Bagudu Hills, both located in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.

The explosion is said to have resulted from an IED mishap during a high-risk testing exercise conducted by the bandits under the supervision of a key lieutenant of Turji, identified as Dogo Auta.

According to credible intelligence reports, the extremist group had recently received a consignment of weapons, ammunition, and IED-making materials transported via camels to the camp. The materials were reportedly intended to facilitate increased attacks in the area as directed by Turji.

The explosion caused panic among residents of nearby communities, including Garin Gwale Village, forcing many to flee their homes out of fear of further attacks.

Sources indicate that extremist groups in the northwest are increasingly adopting IEDs to target military bases, patrol teams, and civilian areas.

Zagazola warn that the abundance of explosives from illegal mining activities in the region could further exacerbate the situation, leading to heightened security threats.

Security forces have also been advised to remain vigilant and on high alert for potential attacks in the coming days.

Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

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Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

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Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

By: Our Reporter

Troops of Forward Operating Base Anka under 1 Brigade in the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma Theatre in collaboration with Zamfara State Community Protection Guard (ZSCPG) and local vigilantes conducted fighting patrol to Bambaran Village, Anka Local Government Area and had encounter with terrorists.

As a result 2 terrorists were neutralized while items recovered from the terrorists include a PKT machine gun, one AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 3 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

This successful operation underscores the collaborative efforts between the military and other security forces in the Operation Fansan Yamma Theatre of Operations towards ensuring safety within Zamfara State and the North West Zone at large.

Operation Fansan Yamma remains dedicated to eliminating threats to peace and stability in the North West, striving to protect the lives and property of residents as operations continue.

ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI
Lieutenant Colonel
Coordinator Joint Media Coordination Centre
Operation Fansan Yamma

Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

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Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines

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Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines


…As Operatives Arrest 65-year old Grandma with Apiods in Lagos

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Inya who claims to be a building engineer, while attempting to take delivery of illicit consignments concealed in pressure machines imported from South Africa.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the 42-year-old Egwu was arrested last Monday at Okeyson motor park Enugu when he showed up to collect three units of pressure machines inside which were hidden parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.4 kilogrammes.

Babafemi said the consignments had arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos import shed on 29th November 2024, and following credible intelligence, officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the agency had monitored the shipment pass through clearing processes up to a logistics company’s warehouse outside the airport where it was to be collected by the consignee.

He noted that the importer however changed the point of collection to Enugu at the last minute, and as a result, NDLEA operatives in a follow up operation in Enugu arrested Egwu when he showed up to collect the consignments.

In another clampdown, no fewer than 511,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from a Siena vehicle at Hildi, Askira Uba way in Adamawa state by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the road in the early hours of last Friday. The occupants of the vehicle were said to have made a detour on sighting the NDLEA team and after a distance abandoned the vehicle with the consignments after noticing the operatives were on their heel.

In Ekiti state, two suspects: Olanrewaju Alale, 48, and Babatunde Ijadahun, 55, were arrested along Ise- Emure road in a J5 bus marked EPE 958 XJ while transporting 108 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,323 kilogrammes to Owo, Ondo state from where they claimed the consignment will be moved to the North for distribution.

Another suspect, Adekunle Yusuf, 33, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 704 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance, concealed in white sacks last Friday at Idere road, Igboora, Oyo state.

In Lagos, a grandmother, 65-year-old Ramata Adeyemo was on Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at 62 Odunfa street, Lagos Island, where 20.6 litres of codeine-based syrup were recovered from her. Also arrested in Lagos was Alhaji Lawan Manga who was picked at Ogundana Street, Ikeja last Thursday while 4.7 kilogrammes cannabis and 1.3 kilogrammes tramadol were recovered from him.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures 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, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo 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.

Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines

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