Crime
US, UK, DRC-Bound Illicit Drug Consignments Intercepted in Frozen Snails, Electrical Bulbs
US, UK, DRC-Bound Illicit Drug Consignments Intercepted in Frozen Snails, Electrical Bulbs
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs and female clothes heading to the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said at least, two suspects linked to attempts to export the illicit substances have already been taken into custody.
He disclosed that one of them, a cargo agent Boladale Riliwan was arrested on 7th October 2025 following the discovery of 15 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in 10 pieces of giant rechargeable electrical bulbs he presented in a carton for airfreight to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
Another suspect in custody is 48-year-old Olawale Hakeemot who is a UK-based Public Health Assistant was arrested on Sunday 12th October at the departure hall of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja following the discovery of frozen snails used to conceal 2,300 pills of tramadol 225mg in her luggage while heading to Manchester, United Kingdom, on a Qatar Airways flight.
Babafemi said attempt by another syndicate to export 810 pills of bromazepam hidden in female clothes going to the United States was also thwarted by NDLEA officers at a courier company in Lagos last Thursday.
In Adamawa, a suspect Bello Buba was intercepted at an NDLEA check point in Namtari, Yola South local government area with 38,270 pills of tramadol concealed in the spare tyre, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic car he drove all the way from Benin Republic to smuggle the consignment into Nigeria on Sunday 12th October.
Babafemi said not less than 53,250 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on 21.3 hectares of cannabis farm in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state, with 70 bags of the same psychoactive substance weighing 1,140 kilogrammes recovered by NDLEA operatives during an operation that lasted between Sunday 12th and Monday 13th October. He disclosed that suspects arrested include: Matthew Emmanuel, 26; James Moses, 27; and Israel Samuel, 20. The arrest followed the destruction of 17,400 kilogrammes skunk on 6.96 hectares of plantation by NDLEA operatives at Aponmu forest reserve, Akure, Ondo state on Sunday 12th October.
In Oyo state, Aliyu Muhammed, 50; Babarinde Segun,32; Ogunbiyi Sanjo, 30; and Ajani Oluro,30, were nabbed with 596 kilogrammes skunk at Apata-Ako, Igboora, while Jacob Afolabi, 30, and Salako Oluwatobi, 25, were arrested with 273 kilogrammes of same substance at Odo-Oyan, Igangan, lastThursday.
While Joseph Andrew was arrested in possession of 88 kilogrammes skunk last Wednesday by NDLEA operatives at Ona – Imeko, Ogun state, another suspect Festus Udoh, 42, was nabbed with 13,000 pills of opioids along Onitsha- Owerri road, Imo state. In same vein, a total of 74.5 kilogrammes skunk was recovered from the store of a suspect Joseph Chukwujamaa at Umuogbo – Agu village, Enugu state last Saturday.
Babafemi said in Lagos, no fewer than 11 bags of skunk weighing 117 kilogrammes were recovered from the base of a suspect Ramoni Olukowi in Mushin area on Saturday while a total of 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in a container earlier watch-listed by NDLEA coming from India during a joint examination of the shipment with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa port last Tuesday.
He said in like manner, 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, Apapa, Lagos, Ekiti, Adamawa, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Ondo, and Imo commands for the arrests, and seizures, urged them and their colleagues across the country not to relent in their ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
US, UK, DRC-Bound Illicit Drug Consignments Intercepted in Frozen Snails, Electrical Bulbs
Troops intercept suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy conveying 13 persons in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Bravo Company, 159 Battalion, have intercepted a suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy in Kanama area of Borno State.
Security sources said the interception occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on April 2 at a checkpoint while troops were conducting routine stop-and-search operations.
According to the sources, the troops stopped a Toyota pickup vehicle conveying 12 males and one female en route to Dekwa.
During a search of the vehicle, two adult males were found to have sustained gunshot wounds.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the injured suspects were members of a terrorist logistics support network who had reportedly been ambushed earlier by troops on April 1 along the Usmadi axis while transporting supplies to a terrorist camp in Dekwa.
The sources added that eight torchlight mobile phones were recovered from the suspects for further investigation.
All suspects and the vehicle are currently in custody and will be handed over to Headquarters for further action.
Troops intercept suspected Boko Haram logistics convoy conveying 13 persons in Borno
Troops, CJTF arrest three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 29 Task Force Brigade, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers at Benisheikh in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the suspects, identified as Abdul Kolo, Modu Masa and Atom Baaji, were apprehended at about 3:00 p.m. on April 3 following credible human intelligence.
According to the sources, the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation that the items in their possession were given to them by Boko Haram members to sell on their behalf.
Items recovered from the suspects include 20 goats, two mobile phones, a knife and the sum of ₦139,780.
The sources said the suspects and recovered items had been handed over to the Headquarters of 29 Task Force Brigade for further investigation and necessary action.
The operation is part of ongoing efforts under Operation Hadin Kai to dismantle terrorist logistics networks and disrupt supply chains sustaining insurgent activities in the North-East.
Troops, CJTF arrest three suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Borno
Police arrest newly recruited suspected ISWAP member in Kwara
By: Zagazola Malama
The Police in Kwara have arrested a 20-year-old newly recruited suspected ISWAP member during a joint patrol operation in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.
Police sources said the suspect, identified as Mallami Abubakar, was arrested on April 1 at about 8:00 a.m. during a routine patrol in Nanu community by a combined team of police operatives, national forest guards and Kaiama vigilante members.
According to the sources, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security surveillance in forested and border communities within the state.
The suspect, who hails from Isanlu-Dankuturu in Kogi State, was taken into custody for further investigation.
During interrogation, he allegedly confessed that he was contacted by a friend identified only as Babi from Babana village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, who invited him to join a suspected ISWAP/Lakurawa group in Farin Suna area of Baruten Local Government Area.
Police said investigations were ongoing to verify the claims and track other suspected members of the criminal network.
The command assured residents of continued collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to rid the state of criminal elements.
Police arrest newly recruited suspected ISWAP member in Kwara
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