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NDLEA intercepts N1.1billion travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg Cocaine at Lagos airport

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NDLEA intercepts N1.1billion travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg Cocaine at Lagos airport

NDLEA intercepts N1.1billion travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg Cocaine at Lagos airport

By: Michael Mike

Travelers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of over N1.1 billion have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi read: “Travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of  One Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Six Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira and Ninety Two Kobo (N1,157, 670,469.92) have been intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.”

Babafemi revealed that at least a suspect, Oguma Uchenna has been arrested in connection to the attempt to export the cheques, which were neatly concealed inside four bound hard cover books disguised as academic project literatures, to the United Kingdom.

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He said the financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered last Wednesday at NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.

Babafemi disclosed that a breakdown of the cheques showed they have monetary values of $287, 623.31; $1,456,300 and €1,297,800.

He said also at the Lagos Airport, operatives of NDLEA foiled attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle into Nigeria 10.89 kilogrammes of cocaine through a Qatar Airways flight, adding that the illicit drug was hidden in seven children duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil.

 According to him, raid operations in Kaduna, Ondo and Akwa Ibom states led to the seizure of about 2,000 kilogrammes  of tramadol, codeine, cannabis and heroin.

 In Ondo state, 401 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered and two suspects: Julius Dapo, 56 and Emeka Ikebuaku, 32, were arrested at Ipele forest in Owo area on Sunday 24th April.

On same day, a transborder drug trafficker, Chigbo Chinonye, 42, was arrested with amphetamine weighing 2.5 kilogrammes and heroin weighing 0.5 kilogramme during stop and search operation conducted along Oron- Ibaka road on his way to Cameroon. He was said to have concealed the drugs using false bottom packaging.

In Kaduna, a total of 47 cartons of suspected fake tramadol, comprising 2,350,000 tablets, weighing 1222 kilogrammes were seized in Zaria on Monday 25th April while a dealer, Chinedu Asogwa was arrested the following day 26th April along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 2919 bottles of cough syrup with codeine, measuring 291.9 litres with a gross weight of 396 kilogrammes.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Kaduna Commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests in the past week, charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain steadfast and vigilant in their areas of responsibility.

NDLEA intercepts N1.1billion travellers’ cheques, 10.89kg Cocaine at Lagos airport

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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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