..As NDLEA arrests 70-year-old grandpa, Nigerien, 3 others in Ekiti forest, FCT, Nasarawa, Katsina raids

Large consignments of codeine-based syrup and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over Two Billion One Hundred and Eighty-Five Million Naira (N2,185,000,000.00) in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of Loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria.

During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of Six Million Naira.

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives on Monday 27th May intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.

During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered.

In Abuja, a 25-year-old lady, Blessing Thomas, was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kwali – Gwagwalada expressway on Friday 31st May while travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa state. In the same vein, operatives in Nasarawa state on Wednesday 29th May nabbed a 70-year-old grandfather, Muhammadu Ibrahim, with 57.2kg cannabis in Lafia, the state capital.

Two suspects: Suleiman Kazeem, 35, and Sunday Gbenga, 20, were arrested when NDLEA officers raided Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti in Ekiti state where they recovered 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa already processed and packed in big sacks, while they destroyed over 4,000kg of same substance on 1.66 hectares of farmland on Thursday 30th May.

In Katsina state,76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg were seized from a Nigerien, Suleman Audu, 29, when he was arrested by NDLEA officers along Zaria – Malumfashi road on Wednesday 29th May.

In the same vein, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others with equal vigour in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka, Anambra state; students and teachers of All Saints Church School, Jericho Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Western Marine College, Ajido, Badagry, Lagos and students of Government Girls Secondary School, Buden Gari, Bichi, Kano state.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have in no small measure reduced access to and availability of illicit substances in Nigerian communities.

He charged them to remain vigilant at all times and continue their collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday 2nd June 2024

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has conducted a raid on drug hawkers at motor parks and markets in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a statement on X, the agency said operatives of its investigation and enforcement directorate acted on intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS) to carry out the raids.

NAFDAC said its operatives seized illegal drugs estimated at over N107 million and arrested 20 suspects.

“The operation coordinated by the Kaduna and Abuja I&E/FTF offices targeted illegal drug sales at Area 1 Motor Park, Dunamis Market Garki, Zuba Market, Nyanya Motor Park, and Asokoro over a two-day period,” the statement reads.

“During the raid, the team arrested twenty suspects and confiscated over 50 wares of illegal and dangerous drugs, including Tramadol 225 mg, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Cod Amol, aphrodisiacs, and codeine syrups. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is over ₦107 million.

“The arrested individuals are under investigation, and all confiscated products will be destroyed. This raid is part of an ongoing effort to rid public spaces of illegal drug hawking and ensure public safety.”

Earlier this month, NAFDAC sealed more than five cosmetic shops in the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex for “selling fake products”.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives at the Gombe zonal command have arrested one Zachariyya Muhammad for “abuse of the naira”.

In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC said Muhammad was arrested on May 25 following intelligence linking him with alleged spraying of naira notes at G-Connect in Tunfure, Gombe.

“Upon his arrest, he was shown a video where he was dancing and spraying Naira notes in N200 (Two Hundred Naira) denomination. He admitted to being the one in the video,” the statement reads.

“He will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.”

Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act frowns at abuse of the naira in the form of tampering, stepping on, tearing, spraying, and hawking.

Section 21 of the Act states: “(1) A person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“(3) For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.”

Recently, the EFCC went after celebrities who allegedly abused the naira.

On April 12, a federal high court in Lagos sentenced Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, to six months in prison for abusing the naira.

On April 16, the EFCC filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, for alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.

Earlier this month, the EFCC said its operatives in Kano have secured the convictions of 31 individuals involved in illegal currency trading and abuse of the naira.