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NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tonnes of cocaine

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NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tonnes of cocaine

NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tonnes of cocaine

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set ablaze 1.8 tonnes of cocaine recovered last week  from a warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the anti-narcotics agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) during the burning of the illicit drugs, promised that tougher time awaits drug barons and cartels operating in the country if they fail to back out of their criminal trade and embrace legitimate ventures. 

According to a statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence led operation that lasted two days last week stormed a hidden warehouse at 6 Olukunola street, Solebo estate, Ikorodu where 1.8 tonnes of cocaine were recovered and five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested. 

He said following the historical seizure, which is the largest in the agency’s history, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos was obtained for the public destruction of the consignment.

Speaking at the venue of the public destruction in Badagry area of Lagos on Tuesday, Marwa who was represented by the agency’s Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN Sunday Joseph, said the sheer volume of the drug haul, with street value put at $278,250,000 equivalent N194,775,000,000, speaks volume about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld. 

He said this has made it imperative for Nigerians to continue to support NDLEA in the renewed war against illicit drugs.

Also Read: Popular Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, to receive…

He said out of the 1.8-tonnes seizure, 1,828 blocks of the cocaine will be crushed and set ablaze while the remnant will be secured for purpose of prosecution of the suspects who were brought to witness the procedure and sign the certificate of destruction. 

The NDLEA boss disclosed that “the agency is proceeding with the prosecution of those arrested in connection with this consignment. On this, the public can rest assured that NDLEA shall pursue the trial to a logical conclusion. Since January 25, 2021, when we commenced our offensive action against drug traffickers, the Agency has secured record convictions. Presently, 2, 904 drug offenders are serving various jail terms, while other cases are ongoing in court, which we are confident will end in positive results too.”

He said “the bust of the syndicate responsible for the cocaine warehoused in Ikorodu is a message to drug cartels that their investments in the illicit drug trade will go up in flames as you are about to witness while they also risk losing their freedom because the present NDLEA is committed to arresting, prosecuting and ensuring the conviction of those involved in illicit drugs. That is not all, we now also go after their assets acquired with the proceeds of the criminal trade.”

Marwa said the fact that the Ikorodu operation was conducted clinically without any skirmish or bloodshed is further testimony to the evolution of the NDLEA and its new capabilities, and a pointer to the fact that the game has changed in the war against illicit drugs.

He expressed appreciation to the agency’s international partners, especially the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) that supported the cocaine syndicate bust and the Nigerian military that provided additional firepower during the operation, as well as other law enforcement agencies that have been supporting efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.

Marwa while soliciting for more support for the Agency’s work, reiterated that “the safety of our society is the responsibility of every one of us and every citizen shall be fulfilling his or her civic duty by assisting the agency to clean up our communities and cities by joining our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA)”

He however insisted that “together, we can make this country secure.”

NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tonnes of cocaine

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NSCDC Rescues 10 Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking in Abuja

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NSCDC Rescues 10 Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking in Abuja

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intercepted in Abuja 10 suspected victims of human trafficking, purportedly being sponsored for illegal migration abroad.

The victims were accosted at Zuba motor park, Abuja, by officers of the FCT command of the NSCDC, following a tip off on their return from Minna, Niger State, where they had gone to process their International passport as directed by their sponsor.

The victims whose age bracket was between 24 and 34 years, consisted of a male and nine females, and all claimed to be indigenes of Ondo State.

It was gathered that each of them paid N80,000 to facilitate the procurement of the International passport.

According to a statement on Monday by the spokesman of the FCT Command of the NSCDC, Samuel Idoko, the intercepted persons also confessed to being promised migration abroad to undertake ready made jobs, especially in North Africa and Canada by a yet to be identified sponsor who according to them, resides in Okitipupa, Ondo state.

While handing over the 10 suspected victims to the Nigeria Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, warned Nigerians on the dangers of illegal migration abroad.

He said: “Be careful of the types of people that are promising you a better future abroad, don’t be desperate because, some of them end up ruining your lives .

“They deceive you and collect huge sums of money from you that there are ready made jobs, whereas, you may end up in slavery or forced to be sex workers.

“If you must travel abroad, follow the right channel that’ll give you rest of mind, don’t allow somebody to seize your international passport abroad, and place you under an oath that you’ll regret.”

The Commandant further stated that, the victims were handed over to NAPTIP being the agency in charge of human trafficking to carry out further investigations and actions within the ambit of the law.

NSCDC Rescues 10 Suspected Victims of Human Trafficking in Abuja

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Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 27 fishermen were slaughtered and 3 others abducted by the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah
lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, Boko Haram terrorists group in the fringes of Lake Chad in the border between Cameroon- Nigeria.

It was gathered that terrorists suspected to be from the Buduma faction of Abou Ummaymah, attacked a local fishing community harboring most fishermen from Nigeria at Island Kofiya near Darak in the Republic of Cameroon.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that they asked them to lie down, tie their hands behind their backs before they started slaughtering them.

The sources said the terrorists also abducted four other fishermen after accusing them of spying for the ISWAP faction

The bodies of the fishermen were later recovered during a search and rescue operation by troops and their colleagues who received the news from victims who fled the attack scene.

Boko Haram slaughter 27 fishermen in Cameroon

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NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has discovered in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State illegal petroleum refinery site with massive capacity.

A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the security agency, Afolabi Babawale read: “In a swift response to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR marching order the CG”s SIS having upscaled their intelligence and operational techniques have uncovered a massive illegal refining site with over 95,000 illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) while others yet to be refined but already siphoned are unquantified in litres.”

He said: “Acting on credible intelligence, the CG’s SIS stormed Otulu Community in Egbema West of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State and discovered an illegal refinery covering a large expanse of land with many cooking pots and illegally connected Pipes tapping from the main Oil Trunk line of NNPC OML 20 assets in Egbema West field; Well 11 location with many fabricated reservoirs, drums and AGO concealed in cellophane bags.

“Upon sighting the resilient and dogged CG’s Special Intelligence Squad the perpetrators took to their heels through the thick forests. “

He revealed that: “The following exhibits were recovered at the crime scene:

“Galvanized iron pipes, several locally fabricated metal reservoirs, Constant Elepaq Gasoline Generating Set, Bridge Inverter Welding machine ARC 200, Electrical filing machine, Several vandalized Well Head Valves, a yellow coloured Robin GC pumping machine and Packs of Electrolyte.

“Investigation is ongoing to unravel the perpetrators behind the heinous crime while the exhibits recovered would be forfeited to the federal government after the Court’s order. “

Babawale said: “The NSCDC hereby affirms it’s determination to relentlessly combat the menace of Vandalism and crude oil theft to a stand still across the nation.

NSCDC Discovers Illegal Petroleum Refinery Site in Imo

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