In Lagos State, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 75-year-old woman, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, on charges of dealing in illicit drugs. NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. The arrest, which took place in the Oshodi area of Lagos on Friday, resulted in the recovery of quantities of cannabis and liters of codeine syrup from the elderly suspect. Mrs. Soremekun reportedly claimed that her son, Segun, who is currently on the run, supplied her with the illicit substances for retail,leadership reports.
Simultaneously, a multi-million-naira mansion situated at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate, Lekki, in Lagos State, known to have functioned as a clandestine laboratory for methamphetamine production by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi, has been forfeited to the Federal Government. This followed Nzewi’s successful prosecution and conviction by the NDLEA, with Okenwa and his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, both pleading guilty and receiving sentences of four and three years’ imprisonment, respectively, along with fines.
In Imo State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a way-billed consignment containing 2.287kg of cocaine, concealed in cellophane condoms, en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt. A suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, was arrested in connection with the incident. Additionally, a raid in the Tudun Kofa area of Lafia, Nasarawa State, led to the arrest of Ibrahim Yahaya, 35, who was found with 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kgs hidden in the ceiling of his house.
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At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) personnel, intercepted over 1.5 million pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol in a cargo bound for South Africa. Two suspects, Bada Olanrewaju Akorede and Amusan Olufela Sharafadeen, were arrested in connection with the consignment.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of 1,496 bottles of codeine syrup in the A.Y.A area, resulting in the arrest of Ozioma Enoja, 31. Another consignment of 400 bottles of codeine syrup from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was seized along the Abaji-Abuja highway, leading to the arrest of Bala Ishaq during a follow-up operation at Zuba motor park.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 17 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 195.8kgs hidden in a bush at Gbanke village, Orhionmwon LGA. In Ogun State, two suspects, Edun Olowokou and Tunde Elijah, were intercepted at Alamutu roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of cannabis weighing 279kgs. Borno State NDLEA officers arrested Bukar Ali and Abacha Alhaji Fantami with 171kgs of cannabis at Ngamdu, Kaga LGA, and three suspects—Jamilu Haruna, Mohammed Hassan, and Aminu Umar—with 57kgs of cannabis at Tsafe checkpoint, Zamfara State.
Lastly, in Cross River State, four suspects—Ezekiel Monday Thompson, Hezekiah Ime, Nsikak Okon Jonah, and Chidi Kalu—were arrested with 121kgs of cannabis and 5.1 grams of methamphetamine.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers for their accomplishments and urged them to intensify efforts against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches.
