By Ibironke Ariyo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested 83-year-old and 78-year-old grandfathers for alleged illicit drug trafficking and dealings in Abia and Ekiti respectively.
A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, yesterday, in Abuja, said the suspects were among those arrested in ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug traffickers and dealers.
He said one of the suspects was nabbed by the NDLEA officers on April 28, during a raid operation at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia State.
This, he said, followed credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit substances.
“As at the time of his arrest, 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets were recovered from him.
“The octogenarian claimed he was a professional shoemaker before delving into the illicit drug trade,” he said.
In a similar development, the NDLEA operatives in Ekiti on April 30, arrested a 78-year-old suspect at his H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti for drug peddling.
Babafemi said 350 grams of the same psychoactive substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest.
Meanwhile, two ladies were arrested by the NDLEA operatives in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
Babafemi said the first woman was nabbed conveying the consignment along Lagos/Ibadan expressway on April 29.
He added that the second lady was arrested in a follow up operation at Iwo road, Ibadan, when she attempted taking delivery of the cargo.
In another interdiction operation in Ibadan, a notorious drug dealer was arrested on May 2, along with his salesman at his residence in Erunmu area of the state capital, after months of evading arrest.
“Two of his associates had been arrested on December 8 and are currently being prosecuted at a Federal High Court Ibadan.
“At the time of his arrest, 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry car marked EPE 299 JZ were recovered from him,” he said.
With the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities among others in the past week.
These include WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Day Secondary School, Edozhigi, Gbako LGA, Niger state; Khulafa’ul Rashidun Islamiyya, Rano, Kano; Community Secondary School, Akweze, Anambra.
Also, commercial motorcyclists and their passengers at Poka junction, Epe, Lagos and members of NAPPMED in Benin, Irrua and Auchi, Edo State, among others.
In another development, the operatives of the NDLEA have recovered large consignments of illicit substances in Lagos, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Edo, and Osun states’ raids.
Babafemi, who gave a breakdown, said a 65-year-old driver was on April 30 arrested at Ile-Ife toll gate along Ibadan/Ilesha expressway, Osun State, conveying a carton containing seven kg skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle with registration number LES 114 AG.
“A follow up operation in Ilesha town led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment,” he said.
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old suspect was arrested on April 29 by the NDLEA operatives on patrol along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Borno State.
Babafemi said the arrest followed credible intelligence, leading to seizure of 76,440 pills of Tramadol 225mg.
In another operation in Borno State, a truck driver was arrested following interception of 14,000 capsules of Tramadol while a follow up operation in Biu led to the arrest of the owner.
Babafemi also said a total of 393 blocks of compressed blocks of skunk, weighing 290 kilograms, were recovered from two suspects on May 2.
This, he said, was when their Honda Ridgeline vehicle marked KSF 65 EQ was intercepted by the NDLEA officers on patrol along Abuja/Jos highway, Kaduna State.
“No fewer than 49,800 capsules of Tramadol were seized from another set of two suspects along Bauchi road, Hadejia, Jigawa, on Friday, May 1.
In Lagos State, the NDLEA officers on May 2, raided the Awolowo Market, Mushin, where they recovered 740kg skunk.
Babafemi said an intelligence led operation at Idogbo community, Benin City, Edo, on April 30, led to the arrest of a suspect.
“Assorted illicit drugs seized from him include: 57grams of Loud; three grams of Colorado; eight grams of Tramadol; three grams of Swinol and five grams of methamphetamine,” he said.
Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), as commending the officers and men of Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Oyo, Osun and Lagos states’ commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities.
He charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to build on the current tempo.(NAN)
