Grandpa Caught with Cocaine in Shoes, NDLEA Smashes Drug Ring from South Africa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed a notorious drug cartel that imported over one tonne of cocaine and cannabis from South Africa to Nigeria, as well as various firearms and ammunition.
The NDLEA said it arrested three members of the cartel, including a clearing agent, a port terminal operator, and a dock worker, while four others are still on the run. The agency also nabbed a vigilante commander, a sales girl, and a grandpa for dealing in illicit drugs in different parts of the country.
The NDLEA said it acted on credible intelligence and requested a 100 per cent joint examination of two containers marked MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071 from South Africa at the Tincan seaport in Lagos. The examination, which was conducted with other stakeholders on the 18th and 19th of January, 2024, revealed that the containers contained 56.39kg of cocaine and 795kg of Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, as well as a pistol and rounds of ammunition.
The NDLEA said it further discovered that the cartel had removed more bags of Colorado weighing 192.7kg, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition from one of the containers and hidden them in an empty container at the Five Star terminal. The agency said it arrested Uzairu Ahmed Iguda, who is in charge of the terminal’s container positioning and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu, who is a dock worker in the terminal, for their involvement in the crime. Another suspect, Mohammed Muktar Sule (alias organizer), who is also a dock worker in the terminal, is currently at large.
The NDLEA said it also arrested Falowo Samuel Kayode, who is the clearing and notify party of the two containers, for his role in the importation of the illicit drugs. The agency said it has also identified three kingpins who are believed to be based in South Africa and connected with the importation of the containers. They are Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel, Akinyemi Olayinka, and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel, who are now on the agency’s wanted list.
The NDLEA said the total quantity of drugs seized from the two containers is 56.39kg of cocaine and 987.9kg of Colorado, with a combined weight of 1,044.29kg.
The NDLEA also said it raided a drug joint under a powerline off Etete road, GRA Benin city, Edo state, on Tuesday 20th February, where it arrested a sales girl, Jessica Destiny, 24, and recovered assorted illicit drugs. The agency said it followed up the operation the next day and arrested the owner of the joint, Ibrahim Sani, 36, who is the Commander, of Arewa Association Vigilantes in the area.
The NDLEA said it also intercepted a consignment of 179kg of cannabis at Badagry Waterside, Lagos on Wednesday 21st February, and arrested a 67-year-old grandpa, Rafiu Ogunro, at Magbon, Ogun state, on Thursday 22nd February, with 57kg of cannabis, 2,700 pills of tramadol, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, weighing 2.31 litres.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the operatives for their gallant efforts and vowed to bring the drug cartels to their knees. He also urged the public to cooperate with the agency and report any suspicious activities or persons involved in drug trafficking.
