NDLEA arrests ’96-year-old ex-soldier’ for ‘dealing in illicit drugs’

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 96-year-old retired soldier for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Babafemi said the suspect, identified as Joseph Owherhi, was arrested in his house in Suleja LGA of Niger state.

“The nonagenarian was arrested in his house at Rafin Sanyi area of Suleja on Saturday, 21st August, 2021 with three kilograms of skunk based on credible intelligence,” the statement reads.

“In his statement, he confessed he has been living on the illicit trade since he retired from the military in 1982. He also claimed he has eight wives and 50 children.”

In a related development, the agency said separate raids conducted in parts of the country also led to the arrest of some suspects with packs of tramadol, as well as cannabis sativa and cocaine.

“Four trans-border drug traffickers have been arrested in Adamawa state while attempting to cross the land border on motorcycle in Kolere village, Mubi North LGA, to Cameroon on Sunday 22nd August with packs of Tramadol concealed inside noodles cartons,” Babafemi said.

“The suspects include Ibrahim Aliyu, Umar Mohammed, Aliyu Adamu, and Usman Adamu.

“Narcotic officers had during a raid the previous day arrested a drug dealer, Chimezie Okorie, at Layin ‘Yan Gwanjo, Mubi market, where assorted drugs such as 23kg of Tramadol and 32kg of Diazepam injection were recovered from him.

“In Oyo state, a 35-year-old fashion designer, Abiodun Abubakar, was on Monday, 23rd August, arrested at Bodija market, Ibadan North LGA, with 24.2kg of cannabis sativa.

“In Lagos, coordinated sting operations across parts of the state especially Itedo community, Lekki and Petti in Lagos Island led to the arrest of 13 suspects namely: Eze Beckee, Lateef Habib, Olayemi Temitope, Abdullaziz Sheriff, Yakwan Michael, Nora Omoruyi, Hamson Igbokwe, Ugwu Augustine, Akin Lawanson, Ibrahim Isa, Emeka Nwafor, Obi Price and Daniel Chukwuebuka. A total of 238 kilograms of cannabis and 2 grams of cocaine were recovered from them.

“In Kogi state, one Chizoba Francis was also arrested at the weekend in Lokoja with 54kg cannabis hidden in sacks and covered with used footwears. The consignment was bought at Emure, Ondo state, with Kaduna as destination.

“In Ondo state, operatives equally recovered 308 kilograms of compressed cannabis loaded into a Lexus car during a sting operation in Eleyewo area of Akure North LGA at the weekend.”