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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested three members of an organized criminal organisation which specializes in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America over two months after they were declared wanted.
Their arrest followed the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said a total of 51.9 kilogrammes of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the Lagos airport’s Cargo Terminal.
He recalled that the consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70 kilogrammes recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2 kilogrammes was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.
He said while the agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.
He noted that the effort however paid off last Friday when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively, with another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Obinna nabbed in Lagos.

Babafemi said an attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight last Thursday was thwarted by NDLEA officers. When his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80 kilogrammes were discovered concealed in his bag.
Iheakara, who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria on 1st April, in his statement confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid N1.2 million upon successful delivery in Oman.
Babafemi revealed that In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday intercepted a Peugeot car driven by Dahiru Mohammed at Girei on his way to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450 kilogrammes. The operatives had earlier intercepted along Ngurore -Yola road a J5 bus marked AAA790XV loaded with motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, with consignments of codeine syrup and tramadol concealed in-between the motor parts. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor at Jambutu motor park .
He said three suspects: Beriakuma Chinrdu, 40; Okpor Isaac, 68, and Daniel Onyeachom, 42, were last Saturday arrested at Amarata,Yenagoa, Bayelsa state in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36 kilogrammes and concealed in a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car marked MUS 711 DH they were travelling in. This is even as NDLEA operatives in Imo state last Thursday arrested Kingsley Omeje, 41, at Amajeke, Owerri while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he ordered.
In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North local government area where they arrested Linus Odogwu, 50, and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilogrammes of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5 kilogrammes of same substance. Three other suspects: David Ekepenyoung, 22; Oluwaseun Folorunso, 23; and Rabiu Musa, 32, were nabbed in other parts of the state in connection to different seizures totaling 77 kilogrammes .
Babafemi said NDLEA commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy lectures.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ondo and Imo commands of the agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment
News
Bandits abduct four farmers in Tudun Moriki, Zamfara

Bandits abduct four farmers in Tudun Moriki, Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have abducted four farmers in Tudun Moriki, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 11:30 a.m., when the victims were working on their farms on the outskirts of Tudun Moriki.
The bandits, who came armed, seized the farmers at gunpoint and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
One of the victims was identified as Salisu Ado, while the others have not been named at press time.
Confirming the incident, the Zamfara State Police Command said it had received the report from Moriki Division and had commenced efforts with other security agencies to rescue the abducted persons.
Bandits abduct four farmers in Tudun Moriki, Zamfara
News
Again, Bandits abduct 12 persons in Zamfara community amidst peace truce

Again, Bandits abduct 12 persons in Zamfara community amidst peace truce
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have abducted 12 persons in Godai village, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday at about 3:41 a.m., when the gunmen stormed the community, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee in different directions.
In the process, 12 persons were abducted and taken toward Gyado Forest.
Confirming the incident, the Zamfara State Police Command said it received a distress call from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bukkuyum Division and immediately deployed personnel to the area.
Sources said that military high command have been alerted while efforts have been intensified to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Again, Bandits abduct 12 persons in Zamfara community amidst peace truce
News
Despite peace deal, bandits abduct 40 worshippers during early morning prayers in Tsafe, Zamfara

Despite peace deal, bandits abduct 40 worshippers during early morning prayers in Tsafe, Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Barely a day after reports of peace deals in parts of the North West, armed bandits struck again on Monday morning, abducting about 40 worshippers from a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Zagazola Makama gathered from community sources that the attack occurred during dawn prayers at about 5:30 a.m., when the gunmen stormed the mosque, surrounded it, and whisked away the worshippers at gunpoint.
Local sources disclosed that the abductors later moved the captives into the forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
The incident has thrown the rural community into confusion and despair, coming at a time when local leaders and some armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states had reportedly entered into truces aimed at reducing attacks.
The attack pointed at the fragility of ongoing peace arrangements in the region, where heavily armed groups continue to operate with impunity despite dialogue initiatives.
“The bandits have no command, structure and control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna State, a local source told Zagazola.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from security authorities in Zamfara State.
Despite peace deal, bandits abduct 40 worshippers during early morning prayers in Tsafe, Zamfara
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