MAN IN THE NEWS: Marwa, the anti-drug tsar who’s seized ‘N70bn worth’ of stuff in 4 months

There are several ways to be immortalised in Nigeria, but almost all of them begin after one’s death. Almost all but one: Marwa. A man who had a popular means of transportation named after him. Mohamed Buba Marwa thought he was starting a poverty alleviation scheme while he was the military governor of Lagos state, but little did he know that he was birthing a child that would refuse to shed his name. Keke-Marwa, the tricycles that buzz about Nigerian metropolises like overgrown mosquitoes with little regard for personal space and traffic regulations, had been one of the most enduring legacies of the man until he was appointed chairman and chief executive officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in January 2021. 

The appointment was of interest to many because of Marwa’s fierce military pedigree. Even his detractors were hopeful that the anti-drug agency would accelerate under his leadership. Four months after he took over, NDLEA has reportedly intercepted at least N71.4 billion worth of drugs in various parts of the country.

Marwa’s first big step

Just a few days after Buba-Marwa assumed office, the agency confiscated  26.840 kilograms of drugs, said to be the biggest single seizure from an individual in the past 15 years.

Onyejegbu Ifesinachi Jennifer, the suspect, was arrested with the substance at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.

The drugs were said to have been brought in from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Cannabis village with ‘N1.4bN’ worth of drugs uncovered on February 7

About a week after, NDLEA uncovered a village in Owan West LGA of Edo state where cannabis is grown.

The agency discovered 318 bags of 80kg each weighing 25,440kg; 15,853 bags of 13kg weighing 206,089kg. However, while the total quantity seized is 2,249kg, others weighing 231,529kg were destroyed inside the warehouses.

Seven suspects were arrested and taken into custody regarding the incident.

Cocaine worth N32bn seized at Lagos port the next day

The day after the operation in Edo, NDLEA operatives confiscated N32 billion worth of cocaine at the Tin Can Island port in Lagos after placing consignment under surveillance for some days.

Two clearing agents who came to pick it up were arrested, and it was later found the drug had been brought into Nigeria from Brazil.

Another cocaine consignment intercepted on May 14

On May 14, NDLEA intercepted another consignment of drugs worth N8 billion — this time, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Ejiofor Enwereaku, the suspect who was caught after arriving from Addis-Ababa, was said to be working with a criminal gang “which specialises in tagging/planting drugs in innocent travellers’ luggage”.

Heroin and Khat worth N10 billion seized in Lagos and Kano 

NDLEA operatives intercepted the consignments of heroin and khat in Lagos and Kano international airports respectively. In Lagos, the agency found 24.05 kg of heroin and 1.25 kg of methamphetamine while in Kano, the 36ckg of khat—a stimulant plant that is illegal in Nigeria — was reported to be en route Manchester, United Kingdom.

The arrest of ex-Lagos council vice-chairman for ‘drug trafficking’

The agency arrested Asekun Kehinde Sakiru, a former vice-chairman of Lagos Island east local council development area (LCDA) over suspected drug trafficking. Sakiru was said to have been on the agency’s wanted list since December 2020 “in connection to a case involving one Azeez Adeniyi Ibrahim who was arrested with 6.45kg of cocaine.”

Online ‘drug trafficking ring’ busted in Abuja 

A suspected illicit drug trafficking cartel was busted in Abuja during sting operations carried out by the FCT command of the agency between May 7 and May 9. The cartel which included two sisters was said to specialise in “clandestine production of drug-based cookies, brownies and other edibles and marketing same online”.

‘Drug trafficker’ arrested at Abuja airport excretes 59 wraps of cocaine

The agency announced in a statement on May 7 that one Okoguale Douglas was arrested for allegedly trafficking 78.2 grammes of cocaine from Nigeria to Italy.

He was nabbed at the NDLEA screening point at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where he reportedly excreted 59 wraps of cocaine.

‘N264m worth of cocaine’ seized in Abuja, Kogi

On April 28, the agency announced that it has seized two consignments worth N264 million during separate operations in Abuja and Kogi.

In Abuja, one Emeka Okoro and Ibrahim Bello were suspected to be carrying illicit drugs weighing 1.1 kg. Okoro was said to have been intercepted with 900 grammes of cocaine in a commercial bus along the Abuja-Gwagwalada road, while Bello was reportedly nabbed with 200 grammes in Zuba area of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The agency also seized 157.5 kg of skunk concealed in a car at a patrol point in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

Undergraduate ‘who sells drugs hidden in textbooks’ arrested

Abel Godwin Idio, identified as a student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger state, was nabbed on May 3 for allegedly selling drugs within the school premises.

According to the NDLEA, he was arrested within the university while selling drugs which were hidden in textbooks.

The fight against drug abuse and trafficking in the country is long and arduous, but with the initial strides that Buba-Marwa has taken to combat the situation, it won’t be surprising if he births another project that would refuse to part with his name.