Two ladies and two men wanted in connection with over 16,000 kilogrammes (16 tons) of illicit drugs intercepted in Lagos, Abuja and Netherlands top the list of arrests by operatives of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in parts of the country in the past week.
This was made known on Sunday, October 23, 2022, by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
In Lagos, anti-narcotics officers who had been on the trail of 48-year-old Aro Aderinde for weeks arrested him on Sunday, October 16, over his involvement in the export of 3,149kg cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres via container number MSKU 1820587.
In the same vein, two women, Hauwawu Bashiru and Basirat Adebisi Yahaya, linked to the attempt to export 90 kilogrammes of methamphetamine through Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong of Promise of Zion Church, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, were equally arrested in Lagos.
They were moved to Uyo to face charges along with the clergyman.
Pastor Effiong had earlier been arrested on Saturday, August 6.
A notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, Monday Michael, 45, was also arrested on Monday, October 17, while conveying 365.7kg of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.
Another drug lord, Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47, wanted over the seizure of 5,640kg cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja, was nabbed on Sunday, October 16, following the arrest of his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35, who was found at the store when it was raided.
In Edo, at least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kg cannabis in parts of the state.
On Wednesday, October 19, operatives stormed Ohusu forest boundary, Ovia South West Local government area where they recovered a total of 3,159.7kg and arrested three suspects namely Effiong Udo, Daniel Asuquo Ebong and Asuquo Effiong.
Similarly, on Saturday October 22, operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus conveying 49 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 638.5kg along Uwenusi road in Uhunmonde LGA.
The same substance weighing 36kg stored in the bush along Uromi/Ubiaja road was equally recovered.
In another operation, three suspects – John Paul, Liberty Rolland, and Aboki Stephen – were arrested at Okpe in Akoko Edo with 55kg of cannabis.
No less than 127kg of cannabis was seized, with a suspect, Pius Okon John, arrested.
Also, 854kg of the same substance was recovered when operatives raided Okpe forest where some cannabis farms were destroyed.
Three suspects namely David Obada, Blessing Okechukwu and Odoh Sunday caught with the 854kg of cannabis were arrested.
In Ondo State.
Operatives stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of cannabis that weighed 676kg and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday, October 16, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kg of cannabis at Ipele forest on Tuesday, October 18.
In Kano, operatives arrested Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday, October 21, after they were caught with 538 blocks of cannabis weighing 391.2kg, 259,000 tablets of tramadol, 100 bottles of Codeine-based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of Pregabalin.
This followed the arrest of Abel John and Helen James with 328.7kg of cannabis at Gonin Gora area of Kaduna, while 5,000 tablets of Tramadol and 25,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered along Abuja-Kaduna expressway.
In the same vein, a suspect, Yahaya Musa, was arrested on Sunday, October 16, at Tashar Yari, Kaduna, with over 30,000 tablets of tramadol, Diazepam and exol-5.
In Bauchi, a suspect, Ogbonna Ikechukwu, was arrested at Gadar Maiwa, Ningi LGA, with 67,960 tablets of various types of psychotropic substances, while in Akwa Ibom state, operatives raided the Marina market, Eket, where quantities of illicit substances along with
N1,193,060 million cash and
N849,000 fake currency were recovered from the fleeing suspects.
Commending the officers and men of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Apapa Port Commands of the anti-narcotics Agency for the arrests and seizures, its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), said the arrest of the fleeing drug kingpins is a warning signal to those still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them.
He charged officers and men across all commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartels until they are dismantled.
