NDLEA arrests drug dealer, seizes 2,504 8kg of narcotics
NDLEA nabs drug dealer inside church, seizes 2,504.8kg of narcotics
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a wanted drug dealer Stephen Afam Ikeanyionwu at a church in Ojodu, Ikeja area of Lagos for attempting to export 69.65 kilograms of cocaine, heroin and cannabis to the United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
A press statement by the Director Media and Advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja Mr Femi Babafemi said the suspected drug dealer was traced to a church in Lagos.
“NDLEA operatives had traced the wanted drug dealer, Stephen Afam Ikeanyionwu, on Sunday 15th August, 2021, to a popular Pentecostal church at Mike Ajari street, Ojodu Berger, where they arrested him soon after he stepped out of the church service.
“His arrest followed the interception of a consignment of illicit drugs weighing 69.65kg going to the UK through the Lagos airport on Thursday, 12th August, 2021.
“The illegal baggage had been sent to the airport for export through a freight forwarding company, which in turn gave a driver to deliver at the NAHCO export shed. Following the arrest of the driver, investigations later revealed the true identity of the actual owner of the consignment, Stephen Afam Ikeanyionwu,” read the NDLEA statement.
Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA said its operatives arrested an Italy-bound passenger, Abibu Miminu, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airways flight to Italy via Addis-Ababa for ingesting illicit drugs.
“While under observation at the agency’s facility between Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August, 2021, the trafficker excreted 68 wraps of heroin in three excretions, all weighing 800grams.
“In the same vein, narcotic officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation have intercepted at two courier companies in Lagos 840 grams of Methamphetamine going to Australia and concealed in bolts, 340 grams of Meth hidden in locally made footwears and also going to Australia, 1kilogram of cocaine coming from Ghana with UK as destination and concealed in four local guitars. Also seized from one of the courier firms is another 480grams of Meth concealed in footwears and going to Australia.
“Meanwhile, a South Africa returnee, Obi Chigozie Samuel, was also last Sunday arrested at the Lagos airport during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines from Addis-Ababa, for importing 58grams of skunk into Nigeria.
“During preliminary interview, he admitted ownership and claimed to be a cannabis smoker,” the statement continued.
According to the NDLEA, its operatives also executed a string of operations in Edo, Ondo, Kaduna, Kano and Kogi states, where at least 2,504.8 kilograms of diverse illicit drugs were seized from multiple suspects in the past week.
Reacting to the arrests and seizures in the past week across some states and the MMIA, Sunday, Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the various commands for their unrelenting commitment to the presidential mandate to clear Nigerian forests and communities of illicit drugs in whatever form.
“We have all laid our hands on the plough, theres no looking back, no retreat or surrender and as such I urge all our officers and men to intensify the ongoing offensive action until the last gram of illicit drug is taken away from merchants of death.” Marwa said.
