The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed two heads of transnational criminal organizations, seizing multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drugs and assets from them.
The arrest became feasible following weeks of intelligence-driven operations conducted both within Nigeria and abroad.
The agency reported that the apprehension of the drug kingpins followed the successful interception of shipments containing cocaine and heroin, which were ingested by two traffickers attempting to travel to Paris, France, and Doha, Qatar. This interception took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja, carried out by officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Director, of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi made known that, “Operatives at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos on Tuesday 10th October succeeded in taking into custody, Hakeem Babatunde Salami, the arrowhead of ‘Tajudeen Babatunde Abioye Transnational Criminal Organization’ involved in the illicit trade of several narcotics including Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Ephedrine between Nigeria and a host of countries. The countries include Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.”
“Hakeen Salami fled Nigeria to South Africa upon the arrest of a member of his syndicate, Suleiman Babatunde Oba at the Lagos Airport on August 25 over an attempt to export 25.10kgs of ephedrine to South Africa.”
“Hakeem Babatunde Salami was however smoked out of hiding through partnership with South African authorities and other intelligence and investigative mechanisms.”
“While some of his luxury vehicles have been seized and his home in Surulere Lagos sealed other members of the cartel already in custody include Suleiman and Godwin Edet Mathew.’’
In his statement, he asserted that he had previously been engaged in the importation of construction materials from China to Nigeria and had also been involved in the trade of gold in South Africa. However, approximately two years ago, he transitioned into the unlawful drug trade.
“The head of another cartel, Okafor Ikechukwu Williams (aka Jantu), and his wife, Okafor Ifeyinwa Grace were also taken into custody on Thursday 5th October when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout at 9 Awa Street, Ago Palace, Okota area of Lagos where they recovered 27.566 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a blue box and two sacks, ready for export to Europe and Asia.”
“Their Lexus RX350 marked ABJ 512 AY parked in the house was also seized during the operation. Their arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering about the activities of the criminal network.”
“At the Abuja airport, operatives on Friday 6th October arrested a drug trafficker, Nwofor Ejiogu Charles, 45, during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Doha.”
“After a body scan revealed he ingested cocaine, he was placed under observation during which he excreted 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.653kgs. At the point of his arrest, Nwofor who was the last passenger to board his flight offered to compromise an NDLEA officer with $3,000 to free him.”
“The following day, Saturday 7th October, another trafficker, Nwufo Charles Okwudili, 45, was also arrested while attempting to board Lufthansa Airlines flight LH 0595 to Paris, France via Frankfurt, Germany.”
“After being put through the body scanner, he was taken into the recovery room where he excreted 96 wraps of heroin he ingested with a total weight of 1.413kgs.”
“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Okene -Lokoja-Abuja expressway on Tuesday 10th October intercepted a commercial bus coming from Lagos to Kano.”
“A search of the bus led to the seizure of Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Thousand US Dollars ($4,880,000), and Fifty-Seven Million Céfa, (CFA57,000,000) suspected to be counterfeits.”