NDLEA has arrested two Qatar-based drug kingpins, following the interception of their methamphetamine consignment at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi stated in Abuja on Sunday that those arrested were Eyah Nnamdi, alias Murphy and Ugwuoke Oluchukwu.
He explained that Oluchukwu was the first to be arrested on June 9 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers at the Lagos airport.
He added that NDLEA officers accosted Oluchukwu travelling to Doha with an Ivorien passport in the name of Hien Narcisse.
Babafemi stated further that a scrutiny of his black carry-on luggage led to the discovery of a false bottom concealing two parcels of crystalline substance that tested positive to methamphetamine and weighing 1kg.
“Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect is a Nigerian who had obtained the Ivorien passport for his travels.
“He confessed that he travelled to Qatar in August 2022 and returned to Nigeria in April 2023 to perfect arrangements for the movement of the drug consignment.
“A further probe led operatives to Oluchukwu’s Qatar-based senior partner in the trade simply identified as Murphy who was lurking around in Eziani, his home town in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“Oluchukwu who hails from Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state claimed he holds a National Diploma in Electrical Engineering.
“A prompt deployment of NDLEA operatives to Eziani community on June 10 led to the arrest of ‘Murphy’.
“His true identity was later discovered to be Eyah Celestine Nnamdi, who had lived in Indonesia for some years before relocating to Doha,’’ Babafemi stated.
Also, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted no fewer than 122,900 tramadol pills and Exol-5 in Bauchi, Kano and Benue States.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that 87,000 tramadol pills were recovered from a suspect, Tony Ogbonna, 40, at Yelwa area of Bauchi, on June 17.
Babafemi added that 13,800 tramadol pills abandoned by a suspect going to Geidam in Yobe, were also recovered at Yankaba Park, Kano on June, 14.
Babafemi said on the same day in Benue, a suspect, Chidera Gabriel was arrested with 22,100 pills of the same pharmaceutical opioid at an NDLEA check point in Vandeikya.
The NDLEA spokesperson disclosed that officers of the Agency in Kaduna have arrested a female Pharmacist, Ikwebe Ori.
Babafemi said that the arrest followed her attempt to allegedly use forged documents to purchase and distribute six cartons of pentazocine injection with 2,000 ampules.
“She confessed she used fake documents of a Kaduna hospital to order the drug, which she planned to distribute in Kaduna, Abuja and Sokoto.
“The consignment was initially intercepted at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja while being sent to Kaduna by a freight agent,” he said.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Niger have seized a total of 1,072 kilograms of cannabis in two raids.
Babafemi said that 726kg of the illicit substance was recovered at Oyoyo filling station along Kaduna – Abuja express road on Thursday June, 15.
“Four suspects: Aminu Mohammed, 50; Nasiru Mohammed, 30; Rabiu Haruna, 29, and Hamza Abubakar, 18 were arrested.”
According to him, on June 16, operatives intercepted a Mercedes 1422 truck marked MKD 116 ZM on its way from Umunede, Delta with gallons of palm oil to be delivered at Garki market in Abuja.
“However, the truck driver, Jekwe Udenze, 38, along with his two assistants: Gabriel Nzekwube, 43, and Chima Uzoma, 42, stopped over at Uromi, Edo.
“They loaded 19 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 346kg, to be delivered at Dumez Luxury Park along Kaduna road, Suleja to one Ignatius Mokwe, 47.
“Both the driver and his two assistants as well as the owner of the illicit consignment, Ignatius Mokwe have been arrested,” he said.
In a related vien, The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 30.9 hectares of cannabis farms in Delta, Edo and Ondo in the past week.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that 18 hectares of cannabis farm was destroyed on June 12 in Umuchime village, Ogume, Ndokwa West LGA in Delta by NDLEA operatives supported by soldiers.
He said that four suspects arrested on the farm included two men and two women: Kingsley Atuola, 40; Okikiolu Adekunle, 44; Osai Doris, 40, and Ublenu Joy, 28.
According to him, in Edo, operatives on June 14 stormed Awakpa forest in Owan West LGA where they arrested Malachy Amaechi; Nanmua Peter; Ojo Momoh; Afam Luke and John Danladi..
“They were apprehended inside a hut located on 2.5 hectares of cannabis farm, which was destroyed and 102 kilograms of the substance already harvested recovered.
“Another farm measuring 1.294 hectares was also destroyed with the three farms razed totalling 3.978 hectares, “he said.
Similarly, operatives on June 17 raided the house of a dealer, Godwin Ejiro, 45, at Uyiwnendi community, Ikpoba Oka LGA.
He said that quantities of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, meth, swinol and cannabis were recovered from the house.
“In Ondo state, John Emmanuel, 30, was arrested at Ofosu, with 81kg cannabis on Thursday June 15.
“Operatives on same day nabbed Gideon Akoh at Ala forest where a total of nine hectares of farm were destroyed and 12kg harvested substance recovered.
“93.7kg of the psychoactive substance was evacuated from a shop in Enugu metropolis on Saturday June 17.
“A wanted notorious dealer, Kwada Vendi, 37, was arrested with 30.6kg cannabis at Mamari, Maiduguri, Borno on Tuesday 13th June,” Babafemi said
