NDLEA re-Aarrests 80-year-old ex-convict, recovers drugs in multiple operations
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old former convict, over alleged possession of illicit drugs.
The agency disclosed that Nkanta had earlier been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Akwa Ibom State after his arrest in November 2022 for involvement in the illicit drug trade.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi alleged that Nkanta returned to drug trafficking after completing his prison term.
Babafemi said NDLEA operatives tracked the octogenarian to Abak village in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on January 10, where 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, was allegedly recovered from his residence.
“Barely three years after he was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs, an 80-year-old grandpa Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta has again been nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for returning to the criminal trade,” the statement read.
“Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.”
Other Arrests
In a related development, NDLEA operatives arrested Ani Onyebuchi Romans, a 37-year-old businessman, for allegedly transporting 5.3 kilograms of tramadol pills concealed inside mannequins.
The suspect was apprehended along the Oron–Ibaka Road in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State while reportedly en route to Cameroon.
“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended,” Babafemi said.
“It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”
The NDLEA spokesperson further disclosed that operatives arrested Remi Bamidele, a 45-year-old man, at Sasa, Ibadan, Oyo State, over alleged possession of different strains of cannabis.
“At Adegbayi area of the state capital Ibadan, NDLEA officers on Friday 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring Road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk,” the statement read.
“Not less than one million three hundred and seven thousand one hundred naira (₦1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday 10th January.
“A dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects: Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday 9th January arrested at Ihama/Airport Road GRA, Benin City, Edo State, in connection with the seizure of 118 grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.”