NDLEA arrests 90-year-old ‘cannabis dealer’ in Katsina

The National Drug Law Enforcement Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested one Yusuf Yarkadir, a 90-year-old man, for selling cannabis to youths in Yakadir village, Rimi LGA, Katsina.

The agency said Yarkadir has been selling illicit drugs to youths in the village for the past eight years.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, in a statement on Friday, said the 90-year-old confessed that he won’t stop the illicit trade as he has tried it in the past without success.

“Full of regrets under interrogation, the nonagenarian confessed he has been selling cannabis sativa to the youths in his community for eight years due to their demand for the illegal substance,” Babafemi said.

“Though he failed to disclose his source of supply, he however vowed his arrest on Wednesday 7th July 2021 would now make him back out of the business having tried in the past to stop the illicit trade without success.”

In a related development, the agency said it has arrested two teenagers in Akure, Ondo state capital, for being in possession of 1.894kilograms of tramadol.

“In the same vein, narcotic officers in the Ondo state command of the Agency have arrested two teenage siblings along with other suspects for dealing In assorted illicit drugs in the state capital,” Babafemi said.

“The teenagers; Onyema Sunday, 16, and his sister, Onyema Amaka, 15, were arrested in Car street area of Akure with 1.894kilograms of Tramadol on Monday 5th July.

“While 23-year-old Kazeem Oluyede was nabbed in Eru Oba area of the capital city with 300grams of cannabis and 3grams of methamphetamine, just as a lady Maryam Musa, 35, was arrested in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore local council area of the state with 5.5kilograms of cannabis, all same day.

“Also in Ondo state, following credible intelligence and surveillance, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 7th July stormed the Ogbese market, in Akure North LGA, where Messrs Jalamia Ochonogor and Austin Uzoka were arrested with 63kilograms of cannabis. Elsewhere in Bauchi state, at least seven persons have been arrested and 28.091kilograms of assorted drugs such as Diazepam, Exol-5, Rophynol, Tramadol, Codeine, and cannabis recovered from them.”

The agency also said its narcotic officers intercepted different quantities of illicit drugs going to the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.