The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it bursted a pre-wedding ceremony in a Katsina community, popularly called Shola Quarters, where a drug abuse competition was held. It arrested 25 youths participating in the competition.
Its spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, said participants were taking turns to drink a mixture of all sorts of illicit substances from a plastic bucket when the NDLEA officers swooped in on them.
The groom, Musa Gwandi who organised the drug party alongside his friends was not at the venue at the time the 25 suspects were arrested. He was, however, nabbed on December 3 following a manhunt.
On the same day, the NDLEA operatives in Anambra, Babafemi said, intercepted a truck in which 5,612 bottles of codeine-based syrup; 57,800 capsules of tramadol and 5,100 ampoules of pentazocine injection, among others were recovered.
“The driver, Ambrose Oyamedan, conductors – Samuel Otejere and Obey Jonathan and the truck were taken into custody for further investigation.
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“Also in Anambra, two ladies, Chiemenam Akusoba (25) and Chidinma Ibenwa (28), were arrested at Nnobi and Onitsha respectively on Saturday December 9.
“They were arrested for being in possession of 15.9kg of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and Indian hemp,’’ Babafemi stated.
He added that three suspects – Monday John (50), Maryam Adang (48) and Mohammed Musa (36), were arrested in different parts of Kaduna State between December 7 and December 9.
“John was arrested with 28.4kg of Indian hemp on December 7, while Maryam was nabbed with 18.6kg of the same substance on December 9.
“Also on December 9, Musa, an indigene of Damagaran in Niger Republic was arrested with 34kg of Indian hemp on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway while on his way to Niger Republic,’’ Babafemi stated.
He added that 20-year-old Adamu Nuhu was arrested on Monday, Decemebr 3 on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway while returning from Onitsha and heading to Kaduna.
Nuhu had 2,700 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 11,900 pills of tramadol in 225mg and 100mg as well as 124,000 tablets of diazepam on him when he was arrested.
“In Borno, NDLEA operatives recovered 81,975 pills of tramadol from three suspects. Two of them, Mohammed Abubakar (25) and Hassan Mohammed (25) are residents of Bayo Town.
“Soldiers nabbed the third suspect, Suleman Hamidu (27) in a follow-up operation in Mubi Town, Adamawa.
“Taye Ali (43), and Okon Peter (60), were arrested with 97kg Indian hemp at Ipele in Ondo State on December 9.
“Nnabuke Christian (29) was nabbed with 46,000 tablets of diazepam, 4,900 pills of tramadol and 6,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection at Gwagwalada area of the FCT.
“The suspect admitted that the consignment was for onward supply to illegal miners at Sabongarin Doguwa in Kano State,’’ Babafemi stated.
In another development, operatives of the NDLEA, over the weekend, intercepted 12 consignments of cocaine at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The consignments consisted of 797 pellets of cocaine weighing 17.6kg.
According to Babafemi, a 44-year-old businessman, Augustine Emeka was arrested in connection with the consignments, adding that Emeka, who claimed to be dealing in copper wire was arrested at the airport upon arrival from Douala, Cameroon through Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airline.
“During preliminary interview, the suspect admitted that the cocaine consignments were for delivery to 12 different persons in Nigeria,’’ Babafemi added.
He stated also that the NDLEA operatives arrested a fleeing suspect, Prince Ifeanyi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, last Friday.
Ifeanyi, he said, had gone into hiding since September 8 following the seizure of a UK-bound 20kg Indian hemp consignment at the airport linked to him, adding that the NDLEA operatives arrested a 45-year-old Beninoise, Ms Jamila Fatiu at Ebute-Ero Jetty on the Lagos Island on December 4.
Jamila had 398 bottles of codeine cough syrup in her possession while on her way to the Seme border by boat when she was arrested.
