The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said its operatives recovered 1.5 million pills of tramadol and Rohypnol bound for South Africa at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, last Thursday.
It also arrested two suspects, Bada Akorede, and Amusan Sharafadeen in connection with the consignment, which consisted of 1,050,000 pills of tramadol and 510,000 tablets of Rohypnol.
Last Thursday also, the operatives of the agency intercepted a consignment of cocaine weighing 2.2kg on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said the drugs shipment originating from Lagos was concealed in condoms and headed for Port Harcourt. “A suspect, Isaac Okoh (45), has been arrested in connection with the drugs,” he said.
According to him, the NDLEA also recovered 100kg Indian hemp from the ceiling of a dealer, Ibrahim Yahaya (35), who was arrested when his house was raided in Lafia on December 15.
Babafemi stated also that NDLEA operatives intercepted 1,496 bottles of codeine in Abuja on December 15 and a suspect, Ozioma Enoja (31), was arrested in a follow-up operation.
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He added that 400 bottles of codeine shipped from Port Harcourt were also seized on the Abaji-Abuja Highway on December 16 and a suspect, Bala Ishaq, was arrested in a follow-up operation.
“The NDLEA operatives also recovered 17 bags of Indian hemp weighing 195.8kg from a bush at Gbanke village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo on December 13,” he said.
Babafemi stated also that anti-narcotic officers in Ogun have arrested two suspects at Alamutu Roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of Indian hemp weighing 279kg.
In Borno State, the NDLEA officers arrested Bukar Ali (29) and Abacha Fantami (20) with 171kg of Indian hemp at Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area on December 12
Babafemi added that three suspects, Jamilu Haruna (22), Mohammed Hassan (23) and Aminu Umar (50), were also arrested with 57kg of Indian hemp at Tsafe checkpoint, Zamfara on December 13.
They were on their way to Zurumi village, a known bandits’ enclave, when they were arrested. “At least four suspects, Ezekiel Thompson (56), Hezekiah Ime (20), Nsikak Okon (39) and Chidi Kalu, (44), were arrested in Cross River on December 10.
“They had 121kg of Indian hemp and 5.1g of methamphetamine on them when they were arrested,’’ Babafemi said.
In another development, the NDLEA said it seized a multi-million-naira mansion in Lekki area of Lagos used to produce methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Nzewi Okenwa.
According to Babafemi, the seizure followed the conviction of Okenwa by the Federal High Court, Lagos, adding that Okenwa was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Ukah on July 30 and subsequently arraigned on a four-count charge before the court.
He added that the court sentenced the two men to four and three years imprisonment with an option of N4 million and N3 million fine, respectively.
This, he said, was in addition to community service for four and three weeks each, and the forfeiture of Okenwa’s vehicle marked EKY 496 DJ, to the Federal Government.
“To further deny him of enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos.
“It initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on Dec. 6, before the final forfeiture on December 7,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA operatives in Lagos last Friday, according to Babafemi, arrested a 75-year-old grandmother, Sekinat Soremekun, for dealing in illicit drugs.
The woman, he said, was arrested in the Oshodi area of Lagos in possession of quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup. “She claimed her son, Segun, who is now at large, supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed,” he added.
Babafemi said the NDLEA has intensified the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in schools, markets, worship, and other public places across the country.
Lectures against drug abuse, he said, were held for students at St. Margaret High School, Ilesa, Osun State; Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu, Ogun State; and Wesley Model Primary and Secondary School, Badagry, Lagos State.
He added that the lecture was held at Government Junior Secondary School and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaryasa, Tudun Wada Local Government Area of Kano State.
