Crime
US, UK, Cyprus-bound cocaine, opioids concealed in shoe soles, clothes seized in Lagos
US, UK, Cyprus-bound cocaine, opioids concealed in shoe soles, clothes seized in Lagos
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have truncated plans of smuggling illicit drugs from Nigeria to United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus.
A press statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency. Femi Babafemi said operatives of the agency intercepted various quantities of cocaine and opioids such as tramadol, pentazocine injection, morphine sulphate, ketamine injection, among others concealed in soles of shoes, clothes and other items being shipped to the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus.
Babafemi said while no less than 250 grammes of cocaine going to Cyprus was hidden in soles of custom-made shoes, over five kilogrammes of opioids heading to the US and UK were discovered by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) in clothes and other household items meant to be shipped through some courier firms in Lagos.
The spokesman also disclosed that a consignment of 440 grammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis coming from Canada to Lagos was equally intercepted by operatives in one of the logistic companies.
In another clampdown, NDLEA operatives in Edo state last Wednesday intercepted a vehicle marked Abuja GWA 273 DD at Ewu junction, Esan Central local government area following credible intelligence. Babafemi said the luggage of one of the occupants, Aminu Abdullahi, 32, was searched and found to contain custard containers, where 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were buried in the custard powder. In his statement, the suspect was said to have claimed the drugs were bought in Onitsha, Anambra state and he was taking them to Mararaba area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to sell.
In another operation, operatives last Thursday raided the Ohen forest, Abudu area of Edo and destroyed 5,429.75 kilogrammes of cannabis on 2.918 hectares of farmlands where four suspects: Godday Ariye, 37; Friday Okafor, 59; Obinna Nwosu, 48; and Yusuf Adamu, 27, were arrested.
Similarly, 300 kilogrammes of the same substance were recovered from Uzzeba Obi camp in Owan West local government area when NDLEA officers raided the location on Saturday.
In Ogun state, operatives last Tuesday recovered a total of 2,865 kilogrammes of cannabis at Afami Ibese while the suspected owner, Umar Ibese is currently at large. At least, 2,455 kilogrammes of materials for the production of Akuskura, a new psychoactive substance (NPS), were recovered from a warehouse in Konduga town, Konduga local government area, Borno state last Tuesday when NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with men of the Nigerian Army raided the area.
The following day, last Wednesday, operatives in Katsina state arrested a 54-year-old Sabo Sule with 47 kilogrammes cannabis in Katsina town.
In Lagos, operatives last Monday raided a warehouse in VGC, Lekki where they recovered 148 cartons of non-medical nitrous oxide popularly called laughing gas; 108 cartons of fast gas cylinder; 134 pieces of balloon and 109 cartons of infusion charger, among others. A female suspect, Suliyat Abdulsalam was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Babafemi said with the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of Edo, Borno, Ogun, Katsina, Lagos, and FCT commands as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities and charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.
US, UK, Cyprus-bound cocaine, opioids concealed in shoe soles, clothes seized in Lagos
Bandits kill driver, abduct five passengers on Bagaga-Anka road
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits attacked a Golf vehicle on the Bagaga-Anka road in Zamfara State on April 26, 2025, killing the driver and abducting five passengers.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 11:40 a.m. when the bandits blocked the road, shot dead the driver, and abducted the five passengers traveling in the vehicle.
Upon receiving the distress report, joint security forces were swiftly mobilized and dispatched to the scene. The injured driver was taken to Bagega Primary Healthcare for treatment.
Efforts to rescue the abducted victims are ongoing, with security agencies intensifying their search for the perpetrators.
Bandits kill driver, abduct five passengers on Bagaga-Anka road
Police rescue 68 trafficking victims, arrest 16 suspects in Oyo State
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Oyo State have rescued 68 victims of human trafficking and arrested 16 suspects, including 10 males and 6 females, following a raid on a hideout in Kajorepo community, Agabala Daniel Area.
Sources reliably informed Zagazola Makama that the operation, carried out on April 26, 2025, was based on credible intelligence from the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the State Intelligence Division (SID).
The rescued victims include 47 males, 20 females, and one child. They were found locked in a building where they were reportedly being held with the intent to be trafficked.
The suspects were taken into custody for interrogation, while the victims were provided with care and assistance. The building was sealed off, and patrol teams have been deployed to prevent any attempts by an angry mob to destroy the property.
The sources added that further investigations are ongoing to dismantle the trafficking network.
Police rescue 68 trafficking victims, arrest 16 suspects in Oyo State
Police smash kidnapping syndicate terrorising Taraba, neighbouring states
By: Zagazola Makama
The Taraba State Police Command, in collaboration with operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Force Headquarters Abuja, has arrested members of a notorious kidnap and banditry syndicate responsible for terrorising communities across Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States.
Security sources told Zagazola
Makama that the breakthrough, according to the Command, was achieved following credible intelligence that was processed into actionable operations, leading to the arrest of key gang members on April 25.
The sources said that the operatives, working in conjunction with a local vigilante group, apprehended three suspects at about 10:00 a.m.
Those arrested were identified as Shehu Ibrahim, 27, of Larai Gada, Ilorin; Abdullahi Haruna, 28, of Angwan Karofi, Bauchi; and Yusuf Bello, 40, of Birama Village, Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State.
“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnapping operations across the affected states,” the spokesperson said.
Items recovered from them include one AK-47 rifle, two AK-49 rifles, six AK magazines, and 45 live rounds of ammunition.
The police sources noted that the recent arrests follow earlier operations that led to the capture of other members of the same criminal gang.
Those earlier apprehended include Suleiman Mohammed, 28, of Lariski, Gombe State; Tijjani Bello, 30, of Nasarawo, Jalingo; Muhammed Umar, 25, of Sabon Gari, Jalingo; Adamu Ibrahim, 22, of Mutum Daya, Karim Lamido; Solomon Nathaniel, 32, of Logo, Benue State; and Haruna Adamu, 25, of Lushi Village, Lau, Taraba State.
From these earlier arrests, the police recovered three AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, and four AK-47 magazines.
He said that three suspects have confessed to several heinous crimes, including kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery, and attacks on rural communities.
He added that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and dismantle the network completely.
Police smash kidnapping syndicate terrorising Taraba, neighbouring states
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