•Impounds cookies, cocaine meant for Dubai, Saudi Arabia, siezes 500kg drugs in 8 states
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested a 22-year-old youth corps member, Arnold Maniru, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for importing four kilogrammes of drugged candies from the United Kingdom.
The operatives also intercepted cookies laced with drugs going to United Arab Emirates in Lagos.
Disclosing this on Sunday, September 5, 2021, the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said that the youth corps member serving with a government agency in Abuja was arrested on Saturday, August 28, following the interception of a consignment at the warehouse of a transport company.
According to Babafemi, a controlled delivery of the parcel containing the candies laced with Arizona, a strong variant of cannabis, and some liquid, was subsequently carried out.
In the same vein, operatives attached to courier companies in Lagos intercepted 1.2 kilogrammes of cannabis concealed inside locally-made cookies going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as well as 920 grammes of cocaine hidden inside synthetic hair, heading to Saudi Arabia.
Another 1.08 kg cannabis concealed in spray cans going to Pakistan and 625 grammes of methamphetamine hidden in clothing heading to Australia were also seized.
The ooperatives also intensified arrests of traffickers and seizures of illicit drugs across the states, where they intercepted and siezed a total of 384.7 kilogrammes of assorted narcotics at patrol points in Lokoja, Kogi State on Monday, August 30 and Thursday, September 2, while being transported to the nation’s capital, Abuja, for sale.
A 50-year-old man, Danlami Dodo, coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, with Abuja as destination, was also intercepted in a truck with registration number Plateau AA 462 QAP at a patrol point in Lokoja.
Babafemi stated further that when the truck was searched, psychoactive substances, including 1,975 bottles of cough syrup with codeine weighing 282 kilogrammes, 199 packets of Exol-5 tablets weighing 75.4 kilogrammes; 250 packets of Diazepam tablets weighing 15.4 kilogrammes; Cannabis Sativa weighing 5.9 kilogrammes and a packet of Ketamine injection, all weighing 378.7 kilogrammes, were discovered packed in sacks and cartons.
Also on Thursday, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Lagos MUS 716 XK, coming from Ojota, Lagos to Abuja, was found with six kilogrammes of Arizona sealed in cartons and stuffed in a white sack during stop-and-search operation at the Lokoja patrol point.
In Rivers State, one Obey James was arrested during a raid with 4.2 grammes of heroin; 1.9 grammes of cocaine and 5.4 grammes of methamphetamine, while in Niger State, two suspects, Eze John and Michael Ifediegwu, were arrested on Zungeru-Tegina road with 18 kilogrammes of Exol, 5.2 kilogrammes of Tramadol and 1000 ampoules of pentazocine injection, all going to Kontagora in the state.
In Kano State, a drug dealer, Chiduzie Ibegbunam, was arrested with 16.8 grammes of cocaine and 0.6 gramme of heroin, while N158,000 was recovered from him as exhibit when his joint was raided.
In Nasarawa State, operatives stormed notorious drug joints in Gadabuke forest, Toto LGA and Down base/timber shed both in Nasarawa LGA and arrested 22 suspects, while 43.9 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were seized. The operatives also dismantled and set ablaze their makeshift homes.
In Borno State, one Caleb Okezuonu was arrested with 352 bottles of Codeine Syrup and 876 tablets of Rohypnol during a raid.
It was however discovered that Caleb was on court bail for two charges earlier filed against him by the state command of the NDLEA. The latest arrest makes it his third arrest for drug offences.
During the raid, 11.5 grammes of Tramadol and a sum of N307,255 were recovered from another suspect who escaped and had been declared wanted, Babafemi further disclosed.
In Ebonyi State, a military personnel, Anayo Nwamban, who bought 1.1kg of cannabis from Mammy Market, planted same in his elder brother’s house and then made a report to the NDLEA office to indict the brother, was arrested on Friday, September 3.
Babafemi said that after his supplier was arrested, the military officer admitted purchasing and planting same in his brother’s house.
In his reaction to the arrests and seizures in the past week across state commands, as well as the Directorate of Operation and General Investigations, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the NDLEA officers and men of the commands for keeping the flame burning and maintaining the heat on drug traffickers and dealers.
He assured them that President Muhammadu Buhari was well aware of their efforts and remained committed to improving their welfare as they intensify the ongoing war against drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
