National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong of Promise of Zion Church, Oron, Akwa Ibom State along with his two female principal barons, Hauwawu Bashiru and Basirat Adebisi Yahaya for drug trafficking.
The two female suspects were linked to an attempt to export 90 kilograms of methamphetamine through Effiong.
Effiong was arrested in Lagos but had been taken to Uyo to face charges along with the ladies.
He was earlier arrested on Saturday 6th of August, 2022
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday that two ladies and two men wanted in connection with over 16,000 kilograms (16 tons) of illicit drugs intercepted in Lagos, Abuja and Netherlands top the list of arrests by operatives the agency in parts of the country in the last weeks.
According to him, a notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, one Monday Michael, 45, was also arrested on Monday 17th October, while conveying 365.7kgs of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.
Babafemi also stated that in Lagos, anti-narcotics operatives who have been on the trail of 48-year-old Aro Aderinde for weeks, arrested him on Sunday 16th October.
He was picked up for his involvement in the export of 3,149kgs cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres via container number MSKU 1820587.
He explained that another drug baron, one Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47, also wanted over the seizure of 5,640kgs cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja, was nabbed on Sunday 16th October.
He said that his arrest was made possible when his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35, who was found at the store when the operatives raided it gave him out from his hiding place.
“In Edo, at least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kgs cannabis in parts of the state. On Wednesday 19th October, operatives stormed Ohusu forest boundary, Ovia south west local government area where they recovered a total of 3,159.7kgs and arrested three suspects: Effiong Udo; Daniel Asuquo Ebong and Asuquo Effiong.
“Similarly, on Saturday 22nd October, operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus conveying 49 bags of C/S weighing 638.5kgs along Uwenusi road in Uhunmonde LGA, while 36kgs of the same substance stored in the bush along Uromi/Ubiaja road were equally recovered.
“In another operation, three suspects: John Paul, Liberty Rolland, and Aboki Stephen were arrested at Okpe in Akoko Edo with 55kgs of cannabis.
“No less than 127kgs of C/S were seized and a suspect, Pius Okon John arrested while 854kgs of the same substance were recovered when operatives raided Okpe forest where some cannabis farms were destroyed. Three suspects: David Obada, Blessing Okechukwu and Odoh Sunday caught with the 854kgs C/S were arrested.
“In Ondo State, operatives stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of C/S that weighed 676kgs and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday 16th October, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kgs of cannabis at Ipele forest on Tuesday 18th October,” the statement said.
Babafemi disclosed that in Kano State, operatives arrested one Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday 21st October after they were caught with 538 blocks of C/S weighing 391.2kgs; 259,000 tablets of tramadol; 100 bottles of Codeine based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of pregabalin.
According to him, the operatives equally arrested Abel John and Helen James with 328.7kgs C/S at Gonin gora area of Kaduna, while 5,000 tablets of tramadol and 25,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered along Abuja-Kaduna express road.
” In the same vein, a suspect, Yahaya Musa, was arrested on Sunday 16th October at Tashar Yari, Kaduna, with over 30,000 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.
“In Bauchi, a suspect, Ogbonna Ikechukwu, was arrested at Gadar Maiwa, Ningi LGA, with 67, 960 tablets of various types of psychotropic substances while in Akwa Ibom state, operatives raided the Marina market, Eket, where quantities of illicit substances along with One million one hundred and ninety three thousand and sixty naira(N1,193.060) cash and Eight hundred and forty nine thousand (N849,000.00) fake currency were recovered from fleeing suspects.
Babafemi said the Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Apapa Port Commands of the anti-narcotics Agency for the arrests and seizures.
According to Marwa, the arrest of the drug kingpins was a warning signal to those still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them.
He charged officers and men across all commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartel until they are dismantled.
