•••Intercepts $20Miilion Counterfeit Notes In Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Saturday 19th, August, seized multi-billion naira worth of illicit drugs at a warehouse inside the popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday that the operatives also recovered multi billion Naira worth of illicit drugs, from the warehouse owned by a wanted drug baron.
He said the illicit drugs discovered at the warehouse, includes, 1.4 million (1,400,000) pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826kgs, 3.2 million (3,200,000) pills of codeine with gross weight of 3, 360kgs and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance.
According to Babafemi, all the drugs are worth N4,820,500,000.
He said that one suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, a Chief Security Officer, CSO, to an alleged wanted drug baron, who is at large, was during the operation that lasted hours.
He said the alleged CSO parades himself as automobile spare parts dealer, is assisting the operatives in the ongoing investigation.
According to Babafemi, the latest haul was after the arrest of one drug baroness, Faith Ebele Nwankwo, who was nabbed on Wednesday 9th August with 2,750,000 pills of tramaking.
He said a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg was recovered from her residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos
and a warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
Babafemi explained that NDLEA operatives on Friday, 18th August, intercepted $20 million, suspected to be counterfeits during a stop and search operation along Abaji – Lokoja road, within the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the suspected fake money was recovered from a bus coming from Lagos to Abuja, while the 53-year-old driver of the vehicle, Onyebuchi Nlededin, was arrested.
He disclosed that on Thursday 17th August, one Jude Ndubuisi, 52, was arrested with 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine during an operation at Kabusa village, FCT.
According to Babafemi, the suspect was initially arrested with 20.75kg cannabis on 7th July 2022, and was on bail when he was nabbed for yet another drug crime.
“Another raid of two notorious drug joints within the FCT: Dei Dei and Tora-Bora Hills led to the recovery of 82.8kg skunk, 1.8kg rohypnol and 1.2kg diazepam on Wednesday 16th August.
“In Osun, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Saturday 19th August destroyed clusters of cannabis farms measuring about 3.49000 hectares (over 7.5 tons) at Mopatedo in Ifedayo local government area of the State.
“Two suspects: Sunday Otogbo, 40, and Peter Andel Makra, 35, were arrested inside the cannabis farms. Additional 30kg cannabis weeds and 16.9kg of cannabis seeds were also recovered from the farms.
“At least, three suspects: Ndubuisi Okorie, 44; Ebilima Emmanuel, 38, and Okechukwu Anthony Smart, 40, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 168kg cannabis consignment from them when their vehicle was intercepted along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, Imo state on Saturday 19th August.
“Another shipment of controlled drugs containing 6,000 capsules of tramadol, 1,200 tablets of swinol, 155 bottles of codeine syrup and 20 tabs of Molly was equally seized on the same road on Sunday 13th August while a follow-up operation in Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers state led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Remigius Ogechukwu, 33.” The statement said.
The statement further explained that a teenager, one Boniface Odinakachukwu, 19, was apprehended with 99.4kg skunk at Isikwe Road, Achi in Oji-River LGA, Enugu state on Friday 18th August.
Also, a wanted teenage bandit, one Aliyu Mohammed Altine, 19, was arrested by NDLEA operatives along Illela- Sokoto road with some wraps of skunk on Thursday 17th August.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect was on the wanted list of the police and has since been transferred to the police in Sokoto State for further investigation.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), charged operatives of the Lagos command to ensure that the fleeing baron is apprehended to face charges.
Marwa expressed his satisfaction with the professional conduct of the officers and men involved in the Lagos, FCT, Sokoto, Osun, Imo and Enugu operations.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels.