NDLEA arrests man ‘supplying drugs’ to terrorists in Borno, seizes 7,609kg of hard drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested a 42-year-old man for supplying opioids to insurgents in the Banki area of Borno state. 

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the agency arrested 24 suspected drug dealers, including a pregnant woman in five states and the federal capital territory (FCT).

He said over 7000 kilograms of hard drugs were also seized in Borno and Nasarawa states.

Babafemi noted that the bulk of the seizures was made in Nasarawa where NDLEA operatives on February 4 “intercepted a truck marked Lagos JJJ 64 YC conveying 367 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,037 kilograms from Akure, Ondo state to be delivered at Shabu area of Lafia, the state capital”.

“In Borno state, a 42-year-old suspected supplier of illicit drugs to insurgents in Banki, a border region between Nigeria and Cameroon, Ahmad Mohammed was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday 9th February at Bama check point,” the statement reads.

“When his luggage was searched 20,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from him while on his way to deliver the opioid consignment in the border town.”

He said two men — Jibrin Shuaibu and Prosper Innih– were intercepted in Abuja with 169 bags and 80 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 1,961.5kgs concealed in a truck.

He added that one Abdulhameed Dauda was also arrested with 89kg of the psychoactive substance loaded into his truck in Owo, Ondo state, to be delivered at Gwagwalada in the FCT.

“Another driver, Hassan Ade, was arrested while transporting 696.5kgs of the same substance loaded in Idoani, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada and Dei-Dei in the FCT,” he said.

“In a follow up operation, 42-year-old Joy Chukwuka was linked with the consignment and arrested.

“Additionally, the agency said one Amarachi Akaolisa, a six-month pregnant woman, and Ifeoma Iheanyi, were among six suspects arrested for dealing in illicit substances in Oraifite and Umuni-Evili, Aguleri, Anambra state.

“Others nabbed include: Okwuchukwu Chukwuka; Onyedika Ngwu; Ekene Hyginus and Nzomiwu Ikechukwu. Recovered from them were over 6 kilograms of cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and codeine syrup in raids conducted NDLEA operatives between Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th Feb in parts of the state.

“In Lagos, three suspects – Boluwatife Adebayo, Ogah Sunday Adole and Omolade Fola Adebayo – were arrested in connection with 220grams of cannabis, 10.6 litres of codeine syrup, and other psychotropic substances as well as various quantities of cannabis, codeine syrup, rohypnol and molly.

Babafemi said Buba Marwa, chairman of the NDLEA commended the efforts of the agency’s commands in Nasarawa, FCT, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Edo, Anambra and Lagos for jobs well done.