In a recent development, two businessmen were arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for drug trafficking. The suspects, Onoh Ebere, 49, and Christian Ifeanyi Ogbuji, 47, were caught with 193 cocaine pellets which they ingested and excreted after spending three days in observatory custody.
According to Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA spokesperson, the suspects have been involved in drug trafficking as their primary source of income, despite managing businesses in Nigeria. They had travelled to Uganda and then to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they picked up the consignments before arriving in Abuja via Ethiopian Airlines.
During the three days they spent in the excretion room, Onoh expelled a total of 100 pellets weighing 2.137kg while Ogbuji expelled 93 pellets weighing 1.986kg. In addition to this, the NDLEA has also arrested 160 suspects with different quantities of illicit substances in two notorious drug joints in Kano metropolis, namely Zaro bunk in Bama road, Sabongari and the Sani Abacha indoor stadium.
The NDLEA has been making several arrests recently, and this has resulted in the seizure of different quantities of illegal substances. Two suspects, Abubakar Sallau, 55, and Nazifi Abdullahi, 25, were arrested along Kano-Maiduguri road with 5,000 pills of Tramadol 200mg. A total of 65,200 tablets of tramadol and exol-5 were seized from the duo of Adamu Nagati, 30, and Ali Nasiru, 35.
In addition to this, 25 suspects were arrested in raids across Tora Bora, Gwarinpa village, 3rd avenue in Gwarinpa, Karamo, Garki market, Sabongari Bwari and New Kucigoro IDP camp in the FCT. Furthermore, NDLEA operatives also seized 24kg of cannabis indica concealed in imported used cars from Canada during a joint 100% examination of a container at the Prime Connection Bonded terminal, off Oshodi-Apapa expressway.
The container was marked MSMU 7412069, and two clearing agents linked with the container, Chief G.O. Njokwu and Mr Christopher Obialor, were arrested in collaboration with men of Customs Service. Moreover, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to courier firms have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound 398 grammes of cocaine hidden in native dresses during outward clearance of goods.
On Friday, 12th May, 2023, a female suspect, Fatima Hassan, was arrested in Agege, Lagos with 33.5kg of cannabis sativa, while 44kg of the same substance was recovered the same day from the Lagos Island warehouse of a fleeing drug dealer.
Overall, NDLEA’s efforts to curb drug trafficking and arrest drug dealers have yielded significant results, as evidenced by the numerous arrests and seizures made. The public is urged to continue to support the agency in its fight against illicit drug use and trafficking.