NDLEA recovers skunk, cannabis, others in Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Nasarawa
Three major drug syndicates were recently rounded up by operatives of a special unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA), in intelligence-led operations across Lagos state.
The sting operation led to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins with a multi-billion naira worth of cocaine, opioids, and ‘loud’ recovered from their hideouts.
Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, yesterday, said a female head of one of the syndicates, Faith Ebele Nwankwo, was arrested on Wednesday, August 9 at her residence, House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos.
The lady was arrested shortly after she returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot Sports Utility Van (SUV).
A search of her residence and the warehouse led to the recovery of 2,750,000 pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg packed in 39 cartons weighing 1,916 kilograms.
The drugs and the SUV, the agency said, were recovered while the suspect was taken into custody.
In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicates involved in importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing in cocaine and Canadian Loud, operatives of the same Special Unit of the agency on Friday, August 4, tracked the drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in Lekki- Ajah area of Lagos where a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian Loud.
The illicit drugs were meant for distribution by the duo of Urama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.
A follow-up operation at the residence of Chinemelum at House 7, Road 7, LagraEstate, Eti-Osa, Lagos, led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of Loud weighing 18.5kg.
“The following day, Saturday, August 5, operatives of the Special Unit went after another syndicate involved in importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride, a precursor chemical used to produce methamphetamine, following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilograms of the substance.
“Two members of the syndicate –Udeh Vincent Ogbonna, 53, and Okonkwo Ifeanyi Uzozie, 50 – were arrested at a commercial bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos, where they were attempting to send the concealed substance to the South-east. A body search conducted on the two suspects led to the recovery of $3,000 found on Udeh Vincent Ogbonna,” Babafemi added.
In operations across four other states of Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa, NDLEA operatives recovered over 13,391.8 kilograms of skunk. No fewer than 1,955kgs of the illicit substance packed in 139 jumbo bags and stored in the warehouse of a wanted notorious drug dealer, Lekan Jimoh (aka KonmoKonmo) in Ado Odo Ota area of Ogun state. The illicit drugs were recovered in the early hours of Saturday, August 12, in collaboration with officers and men of the Nigerian Army.
In Ondo, Ogbu Paul Odey, 30; Daniel Osidi, 34; John Iyage, 41; Friday Simon, 28; and Friday James, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure and/or destruction of over 10,325.5kg of Cannabis sativa in Iju and Ala forests, in Akure area of the state between Wednesday and Thursday, August 9 and 10.
While 22-year-old James Aga was arrested during the raid of an uncompleted building on the outskirts of Utese town in Ovia North-east Local Council of Edo State on Friday, August 11, with 10kg skunk, 976kg of the same substance was recovered from the building in addition to the recovery of four motorcycles.
In an earlier operation in Utese forest on Tuesday, August 8, at least 46.545kg of skunk were recovered and 1.581146 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed while two suspects: Onyelunisue Azuka, 48 and Abraham Ayomide, 30, were arrested.
In Nasarawa state, 49-year-old Umar Abdullahi, was arrested on Friday, August 11, with 64.8kgs of Cannabis sativa in Doma Local Council, while NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI), on Wednesday August 9, intercepted a 4.5kg consignment of Loud coming from the United States at a courier firm in Lagos.
In his reaction, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Special Unit for being pro-active and pragmatic in the operations.
He also applauded their colleagues in Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Nasarawa Commands as well as those of DOGI for their zeal and professionalism.
He charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and focused.