NDLEA

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made two significant seizures, uncovering cocaine hidden in shoe soles and tramadol pills concealed in custard containers. 

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed the discoveries in a statement, warning travelers to exercise caution when accepting luggage or items from others to deliver. 

According to Babafemi, the cocaine was discovered in the soles of shoes bound for Europe, while the tramadol pills were found hidden in custard containers.

He reiterated the importance of vigilance, stating, “This is another reason why you must be careful with any bag given to you to deliver.” 

The seizures unearthed the creative methods used by drug traffickers to conceal illegal substances and the NDLEA’s commitment to intercepting them.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking, arresting four members of a cocaine cartel and declaring a couple wanted in connection with the crime.

According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the agency arrested Imran Taofeek Olalekan and Ishola Isiaka Olalekan on April 3, 2024, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, as they attempted to export 3.40kg of cocaine to Oman.

Investigations revealed that the duo was allegedly working for a cartel headed by Alhaji Kazeem Omogoriola Owoalade, aka Abdul Qassim Adisa Balogun, an Indian resident who has been declared wanted alongside his wife, Rashidat Ayinke Owoalade, aka Bolarinwa Rashidat Ayinke.

NDLEA operatives also arrested Hamed Abimbola Saheed, a member of the syndicate, on May 14, 2024, in the Abule Egba area of Lagos, and recovered 900 grams of phenacetine, a cutting agent for cocaine, from his residence.

A follow-up operation at the Owoalade couple’s residence in Ogudu Orioke, Lagos, led to the arrest of another suspect and the recovery of a new Toyota RAV4 SUV, 400 grams of cocaine, and other drug paraphernalia.

In related operations, NDLEA officers intercepted cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter at a courier firm in Lagos, and thwarted attempts to export cannabis and opioids to Dubai, China, and the UK.

The agency also arrested several suspects and recovered large quantities of drugs in various operations across the country, including 840kg of cannabis in Lagos, 75,000 pills of opioids in Benue, and 2kg of cannabis and diazepam in Borno.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers involved in the operations and reiterated the agency’s commitment to fighting drug abuse and trafficking.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the arrest of Ahmad Mohammed, aged 42, for allegedly supplying drugs to insurgents in Borno State, as part of a recent crackdown on drug traffickers and dealers. 

According to Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mohammed was apprehended along with 23 other suspected traffickers and dealers. 

He was found to be supplying illicit drugs to insurgents in the border region of Banki, between Nigeria and Cameroon. 

Mohammed’s arrest took place on Friday, February 9th, at a checkpoint in Borno State. Upon inspection of his luggage, NDLEA operatives discovered 20,000 capsules of tramadol, intended for delivery to the border town. 

In a separate incident, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck with registration number Lagos JJJ 64 YC on Sunday, February 4th.

The truck was transporting 367 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa, weighing 4,037 kilogrammes, from Akure, Ondo State, to the Shabu area in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State. 

Three suspects, identified as Shuaibu Yahaya Liman (35), Monday Audu (33), and Linus Samuel (42), were arrested in connection with the seizure.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) states that it has seized 100 million pills of the prescription painkiller Tramadol in just 22 months.

The agency estimated the combined value of the cash and illegal narcotics to be about N450 billion. In addition, the agency detained 29 drug lords, while detaining 23,907 drug traffickers.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman of the NDLEA, said this in a statement released on Tuesday through the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Marwa said the confiscated Tramadol may have had a negative influence on the youth population and the nation’s productivity.

He said this during the Commands’ Awards/Commendations and Decoration of newly promoted officers at the Agency’s National Headquarters, Abuja.

Marwa said, “Within the period under review, the Agency arrested 23, 907 drug traffickers including 29 barons.

“Our seizure was over 5,500 tons or 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, which together with cash seized are worth over N450 billion.

“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of cannabis growers by destroying 772. 5 hectares of cannabis farms. In these 22 months, we have record convictions of 3, 434 offenders. We have equally made good strides in our drug demand reduction efforts where the number of those counselled and rehabilitated is 16, 114.

“The figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, the impact on public health, security as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street. Take, for instance, the one hundred million pills of tramadol seized in the past 22 months.

“If those pills had gone into circulation and ended up in the hands of young people, it would take a heavy toll on lives, families, productivity and, ultimately, the GDP of the country because it will affect these young people who are the engine room of productivity.

“We usually calculate our performance as monthly, quarterly or yearly appraisals. But drug law enforcement is generally a continuum, hence, I am wont to always appraise our efforts from January 2021, when we began far-reaching reforms, reviewed our strategies and rejigged the existing systems to accommodate innovations.

“From then till now, we have been on an upward trajectory. And indeed, what we have done in the last 22 months, from January 2021 to October 2022, based on the available statistics, is cause for celebration.”

By Kasim Isa Muhammad

It is socially impertinent how the vulnerable youths in the Potiskum LGA, Yobe State, have succumbed to excessive drug abuse and addiction without realizing how dangerous it could be for their lives, mental health, and what they uphold shortly.

The increase in drug abuse has become a subject that needs actual consideration and drastic action to combat its rapid growth among youths. Potiskum is the epicentre of carrying out various business and educational matters. It has been the giant pillar of Yobe State regarding population and contributions to con-constant revenue generation and youth engagement towards persuading education for the future. 

But on the other hand, the locality is enveloped with thousands of dumped youths who have chosen drug abuse and are helplessly living around some areas of the town. They hardly work for themselves, and even if they did, the credit is artfully exhausted on hard drugs, thereby keeping them unconscious and capable of being involved in any act of immorality.

However, I noticed that some of them have unintentionally become addicted to sedative drugs due to unemployment. I’ve been seeing them in a place where they hide out and observe this deadly menace. I had an informative interview with one of them, who told me about the main ingredient that drove him to such activity.

Nonetheless, the most significant point here is to draw the attention of the government and public agencies with the responsibility of fighting against any felonious acts that can socially affect society. Both parties should immediately intervene to curb the growth of drug consumption and find a lasting solution.

The government should provide job opportunities for the youths, support them with funds to raise a small business scale, and educate them. Providing efficient job opportunities can securely remove the most vulnerable youths from illegal acts. It will also keep them from sabotaging government and public properties, thereby decreasing the crime rates in the town or the state at large. 

Nevertheless, those drug abuse victims urgently need government or private agencies’ support with funds or facilities to grow a local business or enrol them in schools. The majority of them dropped out of school due to insufficient funding and parental support. 

Furthermore, the Federal Agencies in charge of controlling drug abuse and illegal consumption should stand firm in their determination to conduct secret general patrols, seize any hard drugs, and send any guilty person to a correctional facility.

Regardless, it is very harmful to society and the government to spare those victims without any necessary security intervention. If such illegal drug consumption continues to grow among the population, the children will believe that nothing is wrong with dealing with hard drugs. Moreover, the government may find controlling the kids’ law-breaking mentality challenging.

Kasim Isa Muhammad wrote from Potiskum, Yobe state via kasimimuhd1999@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

A Federal High Court sitting at Abuja on Monday, February 21, refused a bail application brought by counsel to the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

Kyari’s Lawyer, Cynthia Ikenna, brought the ex parte application on health grounds. 

Mr Kyari has been held by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on allegations that border on aiding and abetting drug pushing and running his own drug cartel since February 14. 

While ruling on the application, the trial judge, Inyang Ekwo, ordered the defence counsel to put the NDLEA on notice to that effect. He also adjourned the suit till February 24 for a hearing. 

Shortly after court proceedings, Ms Ikenna reportedly told journalists that her client is diabetic and hypertensive.

The allegation by the NDLEA came some months after Kyari was indicted in an internet fraud case involving him and the popular Instagram sensation Ramon Abbas alias Hushpuppi by a U.S. court. The U.S. government had been interested in Kyari’s extradition since then.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Abba Kyari, the former chief of the Police Intelligence Response Team, is in a new quagmire after officials from the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) indicted him in a sting operation.

Mr Kyari, who is awaiting extradition to the United States on charges of cyber fraud, faces life in jail if convicted of distributing cocaine by a competent court.

After the NDLEA declared Kyari wanted and posted a video of him peddling cocaine, the police apprehended him on Monday.

Kyari was charged with official corruption, tampering with narcotic exhibits, and other unprofessional behaviour, according to the police statement.

As a result, Kyari has been handed over to the cops for further investigation and prosecution under the NDLEA.

Henry Kelechukwu, a legal expert, claimed that Kyari’s prospects of receiving a prison sentence were high.

He added that every case contains gaps to be exploited, but this one is particularly close-knit. The reason for this is that the offences for which he is being charged have an appearance of strict liability, which means that you don’t even have to establish intent; of course, this relies on the charge that the prosecuting agency wishes to bring against him.

In relation to this, an NDLEA act has it that “(a) Any person, who without lawful authority imports, manufactures, plants, or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin, and other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

“(b)export, transport, or otherwise traffic in the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“(c) sells, buys, exposes or offers for sales or otherwise deals in or with the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Mohammad Buba Marwa’s (retd) wife has passed on.

A statement at the instance of the family confirmed Hajia Zainab Marwa died at the early hours of Saturday after a brief brief illness at the age of 66.

The deceased, a native of Imo State, was known for championing the cause of women and the girl-child during her life time.

She left behind adult children : Abubakar, Mohammad Jr , Mariam, Zainab and 10 grandchildren, as well as her siblings and aged mother.

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Muhammad Sabiu