Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) achieved a significant interception at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on the first day of the year 2024. A high-strength strain of cannabis, known as Colorado, was discovered concealed within imported boxing kits from the United States. The agency’s swift intelligence-led operation, extending for a week, culminated in the arrest of Olorunfunmi Saheed Olakunle, 38, who was found to be distributing this potent psychoactive substance to various dealers across Lagos state. Saheed confessed to facilitating these shipments on behalf of his childhood friend, Sagir Salami, based in the US, with the latest seized consignment weighing 1.80 kilograms.
The method employed to smuggle the contraband into the country was cunning; the consignment arrived via Cairo on an Egypt Airlines flight, deceptively labeled as boxing kits. The NDLEA’s successful tracking and arrest of Saheed mark a decisive blow against the distribution network of this dangerous substance in Lagos.
Nationwide Raids and Arrests Unveil Disturbing Trends: Murtala Muhammed
The NDLEA’s crackdown extended beyond Lagos, uncovering a disturbing trend in different parts of Nigeria. In a separate interdiction operation, twelve suspects were apprehended across various states, including Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Kogi, Kano, Borno, and Osun. Among these arrests, the spotlight fell on Bilkisu Suleman, a 28-year-old female supplier of ammunition to bandits.
Bilkisu was intercepted on the Zaria-Kano expressway, in possession of a staggering 249 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition concealed within a black nylon bag in her handbag. Her intended destination was Kakumi village in Katsina state, where she was aiming to deliver the ammunition to an identified bandit. Upon her arrest, she was promptly transferred to the Kaduna state command of the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
Murtala Muhammed: Military Intervention in Drug Trafficking Scenario
In a separate incident, military authorities at the Bonny Camp Cantonment in Lagos took charge of a suspect, Francis Suru, aged 37, along with a sizable seizure of Ghana Loud, another strain of cannabis. The drug haul, weighing a substantial 2,104.2 kilograms and packed in 63 jumbo bags, was intercepted by NDLEA officers near the cantonment’s gate on 12th December 2023. However, armed escorts obstructed the operation, prompting military intervention, which resulted in the suspect and the drug exhibit being taken into the custody of the military before their eventual transfer to the NDLEA’s Lagos state command.
These events highlight the gravity of drug trafficking and illegal arms supply across Nigerian borders and within the country’s territories, underscoring the relentless efforts of law enforcement agencies like the NDLEA to curtail these nefarious activities. The timely interventions and arrests demonstrate a proactive stance against the proliferation of drugs and arms, safeguarding communities from their detrimental impact. .. NDLEA Operatives Make Major Drug Seizures Across Multiple States:
In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made several substantial seizures and arrests across multiple states in Nigeria. The coordinated efforts of NDLEA operatives resulted in the interception of significant drug consignments and the apprehension of several suspects involved in the illicit drug trade.
Niger State Interception Yields Large Drug Haul: Murtala Muhammed
NDLEA operatives, in a stop-and-search operation along the Suleja-Kaduna road, intercepted a J5 bus from Ondo state heading to Zaria, Kaduna state. The bus was found to be carrying an alarming 219.5kg of cannabis sativa concealed in twenty-three bags. The interception led to the arrest of two suspects, Umar Musa (26) and Isachiru Abubakar, believed to be linked to the seized narcotics.
This significant haul emphasizes the agency’s success in preventing the flow of illegal drugs across state borders, further reinforcing the importance of rigorous law enforcement efforts to curb drug trafficking activities.
Nationwide Arrests and Seizures: Murtala Muhammed
The NDLEA’s anti-narcotics operations were not limited to Niger state alone. In separate incidents, the agency made notable arrests. A female trafficker, Queen Onyema (27), was apprehended on the Okene-Lokoja expressway en route to Abuja. She was found in possession of 12 compressed blocks of cannabis and designer drugs cleverly concealed within an indomie carton. Additionally, Mubarak Sani (20) was caught in Kano with a staggering 445.9kg of psychoactive substances.
Moreover, in Borno, four suspects were arrested at the Pomfomari bye-pass area with 60kg of cannabis, underscoring the widespread nature of the agency’s operations in tackling drug-related crimes.
NDLEA’s Multi-faceted Approach: Community Engagement and Sensitization:
Beyond the enforcement efforts, NDLEA Commands across all states have been actively engaging communities through the ‘War Against Drug Abuse’ (WADA) sensitization lectures. These educational initiatives took place in various settings, including schools, communities, workplaces, and visits to traditional leaders. From Katsina to Lagos and Borno to Osun, the NDLEA conducted comprehensive sensitization lectures aimed at spreading awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), lauded the recent successes in apprehensions and seizures. He urged the officers to maintain vigilance and intensify efforts in reducing both the demand and supply of drugs, emphasizing the critical role of all NDLEA formations in curbing drug-related crimes in the new year.
The agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse remains steadfast, evidenced by these recent operations and community engagement initiatives.
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