NDLEA Arrests Pregnant Lady, Insurgents Drug Supplier, Intercepts Illicit Drugs
Lagos, Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of 24 suspected drug traffickers and dealers in a series of raids across eight states in the country. The agency also seized over 7,609 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, including cannabis, opioids, and methamphetamine.
Among the arrested suspects are a 42-year-old man who was caught with thousands of concealed opioid pills destined for insurgents in Banki area of Borno state, a six-month-pregnant lady, a mother of three children, and three other women.
The NDLEA said the operations were carried out between Sunday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 6, 2024, following credible intelligence and surveillance.
The bulk of the seizures was made in Nasarawa state, where NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck marked Lagos JJJ 64 YC conveying 367 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,037 kilograms from Akure, Ondo state to be delivered at Shabu area of Lafia, the state capital. Three suspects: Shuaibu Yahaya Liman, 35; Monday Audu, 33, and Linus Samuel, 42 were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In Abuja, FCT, the NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects: Jibrin Shuaibu, 23, and Prosper Innih, 17, with 169 bags and 80 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 1,961.5kgs concealed in a truck with registration number Ogun WDE 557 XC. The truck was intercepted during a stop and search operation along Abaji – Abuja highway on their way from Uzeba to Dei-Dei, FCT.
The NDLEA also arrested Abdulhameed Dauda, 27, with 89kgs of cannabis sativa loaded into his truck in Owo, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada in FCT. Another driver, Hassan Ade, 30, was intercepted transporting 696.5kgs of cannabis sativa loaded in Idoani, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada and Dei-Dei in FCT. A follow up operation led to the arrest of a mother of three children, Mrs. Joy Chukwuka, 42, linked with the consignment.
Other states where the NDLEA conducted raids include Anambra, Kano, Ondo, Edo, and Lagos. The agency said it recovered various quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine, and diazepam from the suspects.
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the operatives for their gallantry and professionalism. He said the agency will not relent in its efforts to rid the country of illicit drugs and their peddlers.
He also warned drug traffickers and dealers to desist from their criminal activities or face the full wrath of the law. He urged the public to cooperate with the NDLEA by providing useful information and reporting any suspicious activities related to drugs.
