The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Sunday said its gents had intercepted a significant shipment of Loud, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis. The contraband was hidden within large loudspeakers discreetly placed in a consolidated cargo shipment from New York, United States of America, over the weekend.
“When the giant wooden boxes dressed as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport, were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with sixty (60) bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms.”
Spokesman of the agency, Fwmi Babafemi said, “At least, three suspects: a freight agent, Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega and the receiver of the consignment Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo have been arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February 2024.
“While Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue Ikeja and Taiwo traced to his residence at 13 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, where he was picked on Friday”.
In Abia, a collaborative raid conducted by the NDLEA and the State Homeland Security personnel took place at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, around 11 pm on Wednesday, February 14th. This operation resulted in the apprehension of several individuals: Adaobi Nweke, a 36-year-old female lawyer; her partner Emeka Nkemefola, also 36; Adaobi’s mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, aged 65; Dike Okpara, a 43-year-old herbalist associated with the family; Chukwudi Abel, a 33-year-old family member; Amarachi Paul, an 18-year-old relative; and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.
“Investigations reveal that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their now late father, Jonathan Nweke.
“Recovered from them as at the time of their arrest include various quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Loud, Cannabis Sativa and precursor chemical with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.
“Attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry to deliver a consignment of 26.2grams of Loud picked in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa state on Monday 12th February was thwarted by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him”.
Similarly, on Wednesday, February 14th, Dada Adedara, aged 54, was apprehended at Dan Bare area in Kano State, in possession of 468 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg.
Also on that day, law enforcement officers in Ogun State arrested Kafayat Junaid and Sakirat Osoanu, seizing 13kg of cannabis sativa from them.
In Kogi State, NDLEA operatives detained Charles Chike, aged 45, in a Lokoja hotel on Friday, February 16th, seizing 290 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 116kg. The contraband was hidden in the trunk of a blue Honda Accord with license plate Abuja ABC 853 SL, which originated from Ekiti State and was headed to Abuja.
Furthermore, in Atoshi camp, Emure-Ile, Owo LGA, Ondo State, authorities recovered no less than 227kg of the same substance. Two suspects, John Jonathan and Emmanuel Alex, were arrested in connection with the discovery.
In Edo State, acting on intelligence, officers intercepted a shipment of methamphetamine on Wednesday, February 14th, traveling from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Lagos in a Toyota Sienna bus with license plate Anambra NZM 347 ZL. The methamphetamine, weighing 0.966kg, was concealed inside a cassava-based local delicacy known as African salad, popularly called “Abacha.”
The driver of the vehicle, Afamefuna Ibeawuchi Kingsley, aged 42, was apprehended in connection with the seizure.
On that same day, a team of NDLEA officers intercepted a Peugeot 406 space wagon car driven by Akhere Fardam, aged 47, along Uromi road in Esan Northeast LGA. A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 865 bottles of codeine, 2,600 pills of tramadol, and 600 tablets of swinol and rohypnol.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducted raid operations in the Kubwa area of the FCT, resulting in the arrest of Tawa Wasiu, aged 47, and Iliya Ibrahim, aged 18, in possession of 10.5kg of cannabis, 13.5 grams of diazepam, and 2.9 grams of tramadol tablets.
Furthermore, Yaro Bala, aged 27, was apprehended on Thursday, February 15th, with 50.5kg of cannabis during a stop-and-search operation along the Abaji/Abuja highway while en route from Auchi, Edo State, to Paiko, Niger State.
With equal determination, various commands of the Agency nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign during the past week. This included WADA sensitization lectures for students and teachers at St. Theresa’s College Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo State; Banma Girls Day Secondary School, Bida, Niger State; Dame High School, Abatete, Anambra State; Government Day Secondary School, Tudun Saibu, Soba LGA, Kaduna State; Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Obinagu, Udi LGA, Enugu State; and Government Girls Secondary School, Garo, Kano State.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, praised the officers and personnel of the MMIA, Abia, Nasarawa, Edo, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Ondo, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their exceptional achievements in the previous week.
He also commended their colleagues in all commands nationwide for ramping up their WADA advocacy lectures, effectively balancing their efforts between reducing drug supply and addressing drug demand.