NDLEA arrests 70-year-old with ‘57.2kg cannabis’ in Nasarawa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 70-year-old over alleged possession of illicit drugs in Lafia, Nasarawa state.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the 70-year-old man identified as Muhammadu Ibrahim was apprehended with 57.2kg of cannabis.

In another development, Babafemi said one Blessing Thomas was arrested with 1.0kg methamphetamine while transporting the substance from Lagos to Yola, Adamawa capital.

He said the suspect was arrested while the operatives were on patrol along Gwagwalada expressway on May 31.

The agency also arrested one Suleiman Kazeem, and Sunday Gbenga with 426 kilograms of cannabis sativa processed and packed in sacks during a raid in Ara forest in Ekiti state.

The NDLEA spokesperson said the operatives intercepted 76 blocks of cannabis weighing 42kg from one Suleman Audu, a Nigerien, along the Zaria to Malumfashi road.

“Large consignments of codeine-based syrup and loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis worth over two billion one hundred and eighty-five million naira (N2,185,000,000.00) in street value have been intercepted at the Port Harcourt seaports, Onne and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA,” the statement reads.

“At the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers with the cooperation of other security agencies on Friday 31st May 2024 intercepted a large consignment of loud, packed in eight suitcases, containing 320 parcels with a total weight of 164.50kg of the strong psychoactive substance coming from Canada on a KLM flight via Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“The consignment estimated to be worth N960,000,000.00, which was brought in by a passenger, Ughenu Nnaife Francis was discovered at the E-arrival hall of the airport by personnel of NDLEA, Customs and others during a joint search operation by the security operatives while the suspect was attempting to smuggle the suitcases out of the hall.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a resident of Germany but travelled to Toronto, Canada to transport the drug to Nigeria. During his interview, he claimed that he was recruited as a mule to convey the drug to Nigeria for an agreed fee of Six Million Naira.

“At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, NDLEA operatives on Monday 27th May intercepted a container marked TEMU 6807401 imported from India enroute C to C bonded terminal in Enugu.

“During a joint examination of the container by NDLEA, customs and other security agencies, 1,750 cartons of codeine weighing 26,250kg, containing 175,000 bottles of the opioid worth N1,225,000,000, in street value were discovered.”

The NDLEA spokesperson said Buba Marwa, the agency’s chairman, commended the officers attached to MMIA, PHPC, Nasarawa, Ekiti, Katsina and FCT commands for the arrests and seizures made in parts of the country.