NIGERIA: NDLEA Arrests Four Wanted Nigerian Kingpins Over 16 Tons Of Illicit Drugs
This was stated in a statement shared on Twitter by the agency on Sunday, disclosing that the arrested dealers are two men and two women.
“Two ladies and two men wanted in connection with over 16,000 kilogrammes (16 tons) of illicit drugs intercepted in Lagos, Abuja and Netherlands top the list of arrests by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA in parts of the country in the past week.
“In Lagos, anti-narcotics officers who have been on the trail of 48-year-old Aro Aderinde for weeks arrested him on Sunday 16th October over his involvement in the export of 3,149kg cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres via container number MSKU 1820587.
“In the same vein, two women: Hauwawu Bashiru and Basirat Adebisi Yahaya linked to the attempt to export 90 kilogrammes of methamphetamine through Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong of Promise of Zion Church, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, were equally arrested in Lagos and moved to Uyo to face charges along with the clergyman. Pastor Effiong was earlier arrested on Saturday 6th August.
“A notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, Monday Michael, 45, was also arrested on Monday 17th October while conveying 365.7kg of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.
“The agency also arrested Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday 21st October and found l 538 blocks of C/S weighing 391.2kgs; 259,000 tablets of tramadol; 100 bottles of Codeine based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of pregabalin in their possession.
“This was after the arrest of Abel John and Helen James with 328.7kgs C/S at Gonin Gora area of Kaduna, while 5,000 tablets of tramadol and 25,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered along Abuja-Kaduna express road. In the same vein, a suspect, Yahaya Musa, was arrested on Sunday 16th October at Tashar Yari, Kaduna, with over 30,000 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.
The circular stated further that, “In Bauchi, a suspect, Ogbonna Ikechukwu, was arrested at Gadar Maiwa, Ningi LGA, with 67, 960 tablets of various types of psychotropic substances while in Akwa Ibom state, operatives raided the Marina market, Eket, where quantities of illicit substances along with one million one hundred and ninety-three thousand and sixty naira (N1,193,060) cash and eight hundred and forty-nine thousand (N849,000.00) fake currency were recovered from fleeing suspects.
“While commending the officers and men of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Apapa Port Commands of the anti-narcotics Agency for the arrests and seizures, its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), CON, OFR, said the arrest of the fleeing drug kingpins is a warning signal to those still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them. He charged officers and men across all commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartels until they are dismantled.
“Another drug lord, Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47, wanted over the seizure of 5,640kg cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja, was nabbed on Sunday, 16th October, following the arrest of his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35, who was found at the store when it was raided.
“In Edo, at least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kgs cannabis in parts of the state. On Wednesday 19th October, operatives stormed Ohusu forest boundary, Ovia south west local government area where they recovered a total of 3,159.7kgs and arrested three suspects: Effiong Udo; Daniel Asuquo Ebong and Asuquo Effiong.
“Similarly, on Saturday 22nd October, operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus conveying 49 bags of C/S weighing 638.5kg along Uwenusi road in Uhunmonde LGA, while 36kg of the same substance stored in the bush along Uromi/Ubiaja road were equally recovered. In another operation, three suspects: John Paul, Liberty Rolland, and Aboki Stephen were arrested at Okpe in Akoko Edo with 55kg of cannabis.
“No less than 127kg of C/S were seized and a suspect, Pius Okon John arrested while 854kgs of the same substance were recovered when operatives raided Okpe forest where some cannabis farms were destroyed. Three suspects: David Obada, Blessing Okechukwu and Odoh Sunday caught with the 854kg C/S were arrested.
“In Ondo state, operatives stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of C/S that weighed 676kg and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday 16th October, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kg of cannabis at Ipele forest on Tuesday 18th October.”
