NDLEA arrests alleged pregnant drug baron, fake soldier, others in raids
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have confirmed the arrest of a pregnant woman suspected to be a drug kingpin in the country, as well as a fake soldier and an Italy-bound lady for drug offences.
NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi who disclosed this in a statement, Sunday,
noted that the NDLEA operatives had continued their nationwide ‘offensive action’ against drug traffickers in the past week.
According to him, the offensive had led to the seizure of hundreds of kilogrammes of illicit substances at the airports; as well as courier firms, hideouts and the destruction of hectares of cannabis farms in remote forests.
He added during the raids, attempts by a female passenger, Isesele Obehi, to export illicit drugs to Europe through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos, was aborted.
“One Emmanuel Omebere attempt at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to also export illicit drugs was thwarted by narcotic officers who arrested him shortly before he boarded his flight.
“Isesele was nabbed on Saturday, September 11, during an outward clearance of Ethiopian Airline flight at Gate B departure hall of the Lagos airport on her way to Milan, Italy.
“She was with three hundred and twelve (312) sachets of Tramadol; weighing 1.5kg, concealed in crayfish and dried vegetables.
“Emmanuel was equally caught with 137.45 grams of the same drug concealed in foodstuff at the Abuja airport on Thursday 2nd September during an outward clearance of a Turkish Airline flight to Istanbul, Turkey,” the NDLEA statement read.
In other raids across the country, the NDLEA spokesman, Babafemi said efforts by desperate traffickers to export varying sizes of consignments containing cocaine, heroin; as well as other illicit drugs through courier firms were also foiled. He added that some of those included 475gms of heroin concealed in food items going to Canada; 202gms of cocaine hidden in body cream containers going to Australia.
He further spokesperson revealed that 720gms of Cannabis Sativa tucked in computer hard drives; heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and another 2.1kg of cannabis, hidden in body cream bottles going to Oman were seized.
He said that 60gms of cocaine concealed in degree certificates meant for Australia was also seized from three courier firms in Lagos.
“Similarly, a 38-year-old pregnant woman, Kate Nwuju was arrested on Tuesday, September 14; at her residence in Rumueme, Mile 4 area of Port Harcourt; with 4.5kg of cannabis, following intelligence that she sells drugs.
“Also, one Aliyu Saidu, suspected to be a fake soldier, was arrested with 2.3kg of Cannabis Sativa in a commercial bus from Lagos to Makurdi, on Monday, September 13, at Aliade checkpoint, Benue. In Kano, one Shuaibu Yusuf, was also arrested on Friday, September 17, with 537kg of cannabis sativa; concealed among bags of cement in a truck, while in Ogun state, five persons were arrested on Tuesday, September 14.
“This was after their truck conveying 552kg cannabis was intercepted at Ogere Remo, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway,” he said.
Also, the NDLEA confirmed that narcotic officers on motorised patrol on Friday, September 17, 2021 arrested a 21-year-old Law Ubi at Marian Road, Calabar, Cross River, with 67.4 kg cannabis.
Babafemi said that a follow-up search of his residence the following day, Saturday, September 18, led to the recovery of 4.2gms of cocaine from his apartment.
The NDLEA spokesperson also said that operatives had stormed remote forests in Ovia; North East area of Edo between September 8th and 16th, destroyed over 14 hectares of cannabis farms; while also recovering 172.6kg of cannabis.
He said that three females and a male suspect were also arrested in raids across Owan East and Akoko Edo areas of the state.