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2.1 tons cocaine seizure: 4 drug lords get 28yrs in jail, forfeit VGC houses, N67m, $50,000

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Their conviction and forfeiture of their assets a historical blow to illicit drug trade, says Marwa

By Ebinum Samuel

Four drug kingpins arrested in connection with the historic seizure of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine at an Ikorodu residential estate in 2022 have been convicted by a Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Yellim Bogoro who sentenced them to various jail terms totaling twenty-eight (28) years with hard labour. The convicts: Soji Jubril Oke, 71; Wasiu Akinade, 55; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu, 67; and Kelvin Christopher Smith, 44, a Jamaican, were charged with six counts in charge number: FHC/L/607C/2022 in October and December 2022, while the trial of the fifth suspect, Oguntolure Sunday arraigned along with them is still ongoing in court.

The charges border on conspiracy to form and operate a drug trafficking organization (DTO); management and financing of a DTO; importation and possession of 2,139.55 kilograms of cocaine, among others. Operatives of a special operations unit of NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation on Sunday 18th September, 2022 raided a house located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, Lagos where the over 2.1 tons of cocaine were seized, the largest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s anti-narcotic operations.

The drug kingpins were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between the night of Sunday 18th and Monday 19th September, 2022. After over two years of diligent prosecution, the trial judge handed the Jamaican, Kelvin Christopher Smith four years imprisonment with hard labour; Emmanuel Arinze Chukwu got a total of 16 years; Soji Jubril Oke got five years with hard labour and Wasiu Akinade three years with hard labour. The trial judge however gave the convicts varying options of fine with the exception of one of them who will serve his full jail term without an option of fine.

They were also to forfeit a grey colour Toyota Tacoma SUV marked AAA-734HT registered in the name of Emmanuel Chukwu; $50,000:00 USD (Fifty Thousand US Dollars) belonging to Chukwu; N55,099,509.50 (Fifty-Five Million, Ninety-Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Nine Naira, Fifty Kobo only) also belonging to Chukwu; the sum of N9,003,168.06 (Nine Million Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Eight Naira Six Kobo only) belonging to Wasiu Akinade and N3,052,295.20 (Three Million, Fifty Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety Five Naira Twenty Kobo only), also belonging to Akinade. The Agency also in another suit marked FHC/L/MISC/672/2024 and filed before Justice Bogoro on 9th December 2024 after an initial interim forfeiture order, secured the final forfeiture of two houses linked to members of the drug cartel.

According to the trial court: “That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number 6 Olokunola Street, Sholebo Estate, Ikorodu Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 2A, 2B, and 2C attached to this application used for the storage and concealment of 2,139.55kg (More Than Two Tons) Cocaine, an illicit substance similar to Heroin and LSD. “That an Order of final forfeiture and confiscation is granted in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Landed Property/House Number J9, Road 3, Close 1, Victoria Garden City (VGC) Estate, Lagos, Lagos State, as contained in Exhibit NDLEA 3 attached to this application reasonably believed to be bought with proceeds derived from trafficking in illicit drug substances (proceeds of crime) as in relief 1 of this Motion.

“That an Order is granted directing the sale or disposal by any other means provided by law of the forfeited House/Landed Property by the Applicant and the payment of the proceeds therefrom to the Federal Government of Nigeria.” While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation and prosecution of members of the drug cartel, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the case is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll not only go to jail but will equally lose all their investments in illicit drug consignments including all the properties and wealth acquired through the criminal trade.

Police arrests international fraudsters that specialize in forging foreign certificates in Lagos

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..offer N66million as bribe to Police

By Ebinum Samuel

Two suspected international fraudsters that specialize in forging certificates of different international and African Universities have been arrested by the police at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos. The suspects, Elvis Osakpolo Edokpain, 23, and Kelly Osas Endgieen, 24, also specialize in defrauding their unsuspecting victims on the internet and have succeeded in acquiring exotic cars and erecting mansions in different parts of the country with the proceeds of their loot.
Police sources at Zone 2 said table turned for the suspects after detectives at the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Zone received credible information from outside Nigerians concerning some group of boys that specializes in forging foreign certificates. It was learned that on getting the information, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Zone, Adegoke Fayoude detailed anti-corruption unit to investigate it. He reportedly gave matching orders that they must be rounded up without delay.


Based on his stern directives, according to police sources, detectives stormed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and as soon as the suspects arrived, they trailed them to a five star hotel at Osapa-London in Lekki and later accosted them at the bus stop while they were about escaping secretly from the hotel.
It was gathered that on searching their luggage, one certificate of Blue Crest College, Ghana, belonging to Elvis Osakpolo Edokpiain, was recovered and a student identity card of Academic City College was also recovered from Kenny Osas. Further search revealed a transcript of an academic record from Blue Crest University belonging to Elvis Osapolo. Going through the search again, detectives discovered a letter of English proficiency from the said college and a letter of recommendation from the same Blue Crest College.


Reports said that upon interrogation, the suspects made useful statements to the police and confessed that they never got any admission into the school, that they procured the degree certificate through the help of a female Nigerian resident in Ghana. The suspects further stated that the major aim of doing that is to enable them get Ghana resident permit, which they got and the resident permit is showing them also as a student of Academic City University and that none of them has ever been admitted in the school.
Police sources further disclosed that the suspects confessed that they were made to pay 15,000 Ghana cedis for the certificate and 5,000 Ghana cedis which is equivalent to N1.5 million and 5,000 Ghana cedis for the resident permit which is equivalent to 500,000 dollars. They reportedly paid a total of 26,000 Ghana cedis to procure the documents. On further interrogation, they said that they are doing it to evade arrest in Ghana since they don’t have any means of livelihood.
According to the suspects in their confessional statements, whenever police intercept us, we will show the passport that we are students because we don’t have any means of livelihood in Ghana.

On further interrogation, they confessed that they do fraudulent activities, such as online romance scam and the provision of foreign bank accounts for fraudulent transactions on internet through what they call ‘ Facebook bombing’. The suspects said; “we meet people online and present ourselves as an American soldier by name Captain Donald Rowe, whom we are impersonating on Instagram. He is a captain of the United States of America and currently on peacekeeping mission in Syria. While we are engaging our victims, we will tell them that there are goods in Syria that if they are interested to buy, they should pay money and we will send the goods to you. We will show them pictures of good materials in Syria.
The suspects also said,” After they make the payment, we use our block chain wallets to collect the money or foreign bank accounts which at last are being credited in our Nigerian accounts. We have our partners in UK, South Africa, and other countries and most of our victims are from Japan, Denmark, China, and other countries.”
Vanguard learned that while detectives were making frantic efforts to get more credible information from the arrested suspects, a mild drama ensured when the two suspects started negotiating to bribe the police for them to be set free.

Police sources said at that stage, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Adegoke Fayoude who recently exposed another suspected fraudsters for offering his men a whooping sum of N174m as bribe was contacted and he directed his men to play along and recover the money as an exhibit. Subsequently, the detectives played along and the suspects paid them a sum of N66m, which they collected and kept as an exhibit.
Police sources said that already, police authorities have written to Ghana embassy to get more information about the result and their suspected partners in Ghana said to be spearheading the fraud while they have also spread their dragnets through the International Police, Interpol, to round up their foreign accomplices.


The suspects who claimed they were only able to attend secondary schools in Benin City lamented the fate that befell them stating that it was poverty and the need to make ends meet that drove them into fraud They advised youths in the country to work hard in order to achieve success and stop looking for the easy way out.

Engineer in NDLEA custody over illict drug consignments concealed in pressure machines

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As operatives intercept 511,000 tramadol pills in Adamawa; 1,323kg cannabis in Ekiti; arrest grandma with opioids in Lagos

By Ebinum Samuel

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Phillip Inya who claims to be a building engineer, while attempting to take delivery of illicit consignments concealed in pressure machines imported from South Africa. The 42-year-old Egwu was arrested on Monday 2nd December 2024 at Okeyson motor park Enugu when he showed up to collect three units of pressure machines inside which were hidden parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.40 kilograms. The consignments had arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos import shed on 29th November 2024. Following credible intelligence, officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the Agency had monitored the shipment pass through clearing processes up to a logistics company’s warehouse outside the airport where it was to be collected by the consignee. The importer however changed the point of collection to Enugu at the last minute. As a result, NDLEA operatives in a follow up operation in Enugu arrested Egwu when he showed up to collect the consignments. No fewer than 511,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from a Siena vehicle at Hildi, Askira Uba way in Adamawa state by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the road in the early hours of Friday 6th December.

The occupants of the vehicle had made a detour on sighting the NDLEA team and after a distance abandoned the vehicle with the consignments after noticing the operatives were on their trail. In Ekiti state, two suspects: Olanrewaju Alale, 48, and Babatunde Kayode Ijadahun, 55, were arrested along Ise- Emure road in a J5 bus marked EPE 958 XJ while transporting 108 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1, 323 kilograms to Owo, Ondo state from where they claimed the consignment will be moved to the North for distribution. Another suspect, Adekunle Yusuf, 33, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 704 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance, concealed in white sacks on Friday 6th December at Idere road, Igboora, Oyo state. In Lagos, a grandmother, 65-year-old Ramata Bola Adeyemo wjmm myas on Friday 6th December arrested by NDLEA operatives at 62 Odunfa street, Lagos Island, where 20.6 litres of codeine-based syrup were recovered from her. Also arrested in Lagos was Alhaji Lawan Manga who was picked at Ogundana Street, Ikeja on Thursday 5th December while 4.7kg cannabis and 1.3kg tramadol were recovered from him. With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Progressive Secondary School, Ado Awaye, Oyo state; Muslim Grammar School, Ede, Osun state; Government Girls College, Maiduguri, Borno state; Community Secondary School, Ogale, Rivers state; Santa Maria Secondary School, Igogoro, Enugu state; and Chiranci Upper Basic Junior Secondary School, Bichi, Kano state while Lagos State command of NDLEA organised WADA enlightenment lecture for leaders and members of NURTW, Orile Agege, Lagos, among others. While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

After 35 years in Brazil, businessman returns home with ingested cocaine in his stomach. As NDLEA intercepts UK-bound cocaine, pentazocine consignments in Lagos; 3.1million pills of opioids in Kano; 2,777kg cannabis in Lagos, Edo

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By Ebinum Samuel

After 35 years in Brazil, a businessman based in the South American country, Ezeokoli Sylva has returned home with 700grams of cocaine buried in his stomach, a discovery made following his arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.


The 59-year-old Ezeokoli was arrested on Friday 29th November 2024 at the E-Arrival hall of the Lagos airport upon his return from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Ethiopia Airlines flight via Addis Ababa. When he was taken for body scan, the result confirmed that the suspect had foreign objects concealed in his stomach. As a result, he was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 29 wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine weighing 700grams.
In his statement, the suspect claimed he operates an African store in Brazil where he sells provisions, shoes and clothes. He added that he bought the illicit consignment in Sao Paulo to resell in Nigeria with a view to raising substantial capital to boost his business.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Investigation and General Investigation, DOGI, on Tuesday 26th November intercepted two consignments containing cocaine and pentazocine injection going to the United Kingdom via a courier company in Lagos.

While the cocaine weighing 200grams was concealed in local fabrics, 40 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 110grams were hidden in cartons.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 28th November arrested three suspects: Jamilu Adamu, 38; Umar Musa, 32; and Bunu Ali, 27, with 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3,135,000 pills exol-5 at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road.
No fewer than 2, 120 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis produced in Ghana were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Ilesan beach, Lagos on Thursday 28th November. A suspect, Onibogi Muftau was arrested in connection with the seizure while four vehicles that were to convey the shipments from the water front were also recovered.

This came on the heels of the seizure of 472kg of the same psychoactive substance at Idi-Iroko, Imeko area of Ogun state on Monday 25th November.
In Edo state, two suspects: Monday Onyenemue, 60, and Evans Omogiede, 42, were on Thursday 28th November arrested and 185.6kg cannabis as well as a Toyota Previa bus marked BEN 06XL conveying the consignment recovered during an intelligence-led raid by NDLEA operatives at Ukuwague street, Benin city.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Kofar Wambai, Kano; Government Day Secondary School, Njoboli- Fulani, Yola, Adamawa state; Girls High School, Mgbowo, Enugu state; God’s Time College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti state while Cross River state Command delivered WADA sensitization lecture to traders at 8 Miles market, Calabar, among others.


While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Police In Delta Recover AK 47 Riffle, Two Pump Action Guns & Several Ammunition From Kidnappers

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By Ebinum Samuel

In its determination to crack down on rampaging hoodlums and other undesirable elements in Delta state, the police operatives, according to the state police command spokesman, SP Bright Edafe said that on Wednesday this week at about 2145hrs, acting on a distress call from the command’s control room over a kidnap incident along DLA road in Asaba where four armed hoodlums operating in a Toyota Camry 2.4 Model with Reg. No. Enugu BLF 490 AA kidnapped one male and a female victims (Names withheld). The Toyota Camry vehicle belonging to a woman was also taken by the hoodlums. “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Abaniwonda, upon receipt of this information directed the command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping and Cyber Crime Squad to ensure that the hoodlums are arrested and victims rescued.

“The commander, CSP Labe Joseph led operatives from the unit and embarked on an intelligence-led operation, trailed the suspected kidnappers to Ezenei by Asaba/Benin Expressway, the hoodlums who upon sighting the police team closing in on them, zoomed off and diverted to Oko Market Road in a bid to escape but the team courageously chased after the hoodlums forcing the suspects to jump out of their vehicles, hurriedly took to their heels and fled into the nearby bush with bullet injuries abandoning the cats. Upon search of their operational vehicle, one AK-47 rifle with a defaced breach number, two pump action guns, one magazine, eight (8) rounds of AR live ammunition, twenty-one (21) rounds of live cartridges concealed under the suspects’ engine compartment were recovered, exhibits in custody while the investigation in progress.The CP assures residents that the command will go all out to ensure that the fleeing suspects are arrested and brought to book.

Truck Driver, Muhammed Bello, Arrested For Allegedly Stealing N293 Million Worth Of Spare Parts

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A truck driver, Muhammed Bello, has been arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Command in Lagos for allegedly diverting and stealing N293 million worth of Caterpillar spare parts entrusted to him for delivery to a customer in northern Nigeria. The suspect was charged at the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court.

According to the police, Bello was hired by a complainant in Apapa to transport the goods, but instead of delivering the items as agreed, he allegedly sold the spare parts. When the complainant reached out to Bello for confirmation of the delivery, he falsely claimed that his truck had been hijacked by armed robbers, and the goods had been stolen.

After a thorough investigation, police found that the robbery story was fabricated. Following this revelation, the complainant filed a petition with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Adegoke Fayoade, who ordered a special team to track down the suspect. Bello was eventually apprehended at a hideout in Lagos after the police employed intelligence gathering and surveillance techniques.

The suspect was charged with conspiracy and theft before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, where prosecution counsel, ASP Francis Igbinosa, stated that the theft took place on April 20, 2024, at 16/18 Ado Avenue, Apapa. The charges contravene Sections 411 and 287(5)(a)(b) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.

Bello pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Chief Magistrate Gbajumo Ayoku granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. However, the suspect was remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

NDLEA arrests businessman at Enugu airport for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine . Smashes 2 cocaine syndicates, nabs Chinese, Nigerian kingpins, 5 associates in Lagos; intercepts N4.3Billion worth of opioids at Onne, Tincan ports

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By Ebinum Samuel

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 50-year-old businessman, Osuoha Christian Iheanacho, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, AIIA, Enugu, for ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine. Osuoha was intercepted on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at the arrival hall of the Enugu airport during the inbound screening of passengers arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an Ethiopian airlines flight following months of intelligence and surveillance on him. He was subsequently placed on excretion observation during which he egested 90 pellets of cocaine weighing 2.019 kilograms in seven excretions. Investigation reveals that the suspect who operates phone and accessories business in Lagos and Gabon, Central Africa, travelled by road from Gabon to Douala, Cameroon from where he took a flight to Addis Ababa where he swallowed the pellets of cocaine while in transit and thereafter continued his journey to Enugu with Lagos as his final destination.

He deliberately complicated his movement to distort traces of his travel history unknown to him that he has been on NDLEA watchlist for the past three months. In his statement, Osuoha said he desperately needed the money from the criminal drug trade to boost his declining phone and accessories business. In another well-coordinated operation carried out by a Special Operations Unit of the Agency on Thursday 21st November, head of a cocaine distribution cartel, 42-year-old Ndive Maxwell Obinna was arrested along with five of his associates at Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo, Lagos. A total of 2.412 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from them. Other members of the drug trafficking organization arrested along Obinna include: Okeke Gloria Ifeoma who is the syndicate’s stash keeper; Ikechebelu Emmanuel Chibuzor; Okorie Onyedikachi; Okonkwo Nnabugo Prince; and Okafor Blessing Anita. In a related development, another drug syndicate operated by a Chinese man, 58-year-old Tianzhen Yen (alias Jackie) has been dismantled by NDLEA operatives following his arrest at his hotel in Ikeja area of Lagos.

Officers of the Seme Special Area Command of the Agency had on Thursday 21st November intercepted a 40-year-old suspect, Yakubu Emmanuel Mark in a commercial bus going to Ghana at the Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme expressway based on credible intelligence. When he was searched, a total of 750grams of cocaine were found in his bag. A swift follow up operation was organized to trace and arrest the kingpin behind the trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, who turned out to be a Chinese citizen, Tianzhen Yen. He was eventually traced to MC Hotel behind Alade market, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. When his hotel room was searched, 4.3grams of cocaine; a gram of methamphetamine; two electronic weighing scales; and Chinese National Identification Number Card, among other exhibits were recovered while he was arrested in the vicinity of the hotel. At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Friday 22nd November intercepted 92 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis with a combined weight of 23.25kg concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada: a Nissan car and a GMC bus. The discovery was made during a joint examination of a container from Canada by NDLEA officers, men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other stakeholders.

In Rivers state, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, on Thursday 21st November intercepted two containers of imported opioids during a joint examination with men of Customs Service and other security agencies. A total of 168,000 bottles of codeine based syrup worth One Billion One Hundred and Seventy Six Million Naira (N1,176,000,000) only in street value, were recovered from one of the containers while the second one contains Four Million Five Hundred Thousand (4,500,000) pills of super royal tramadol 225mg valued at Three Billion One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N3,150,000,000) only, bringing the combined value of both the codeine and tramadol consignments to Four Billion Three Hundred and Twenty Six Million Naira (N4,326,000,000) only.

In Ekiti state, NDLEA operatives on Sunday 17th November arrested a 50-year-old physically challenged woman, Mustapha Boja, with 286 grams of Colorado and Loud strains of cannabis at Araromi street, Ikere-Ekiti, while 64kg of cannabis sativa was recovered at Akinyele motor park, Ibadan, Oyo state on Thursday 21st November. Not less than 1,200.5 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were seized during raids by NDLEA officers in parts of Edo state. At Utese forest in Ovia North East LGA, 463.5kg was recovered on Thursday 21st November; while 507kg was seized at a compound in Owan village, Ovia LGA where the duo of David Ojo Ederin, 60, and Afoje Frank, 24, were arrested on Friday 22nd November. Another suspect, Godwin Okhoya, 40, was nabbed with 230kg of same substance at Okpuje, Owan West LGA. In Kano, four suspects: Usman Sani, 25; Abdul Mohd, 28; Bunu Ali,27; and Umar Musa, 30, were on Tuesday 19th November arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria- Kano road, with 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 45kg, while Ayuba Umar Zaranda, 55, was nabbed with 124kg cannabis at Pengana village, Toro LGA, Bauchi state. With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Sardauna Academy, Malumfashi, Katsina state; Community Secondary School, Ede-Oballa, Nsukka, Enugu state; Government Secondary School, Riji, Kano state; Government Secondary School, Ogba, Ahoada East LGA, Rivers state and the youths and community leaders of Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti state, among others. While commending the officers and men of AIIA, SIU,Tincan, Onne, Seme, Ekiti, Oyo, Kano, Bauchi, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

NDLEA smashes cross-border drug syndicates, arrests 6 kingpins, recovers cocaine, opioids

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Lekki software engineer, Chadian, others nabbed over tons of illicit drugs seized in Lagos, FCT, Taraba, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Ondo

By Ebinum Samuel

After months of intelligence gathering and painstaking surveillance, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates with cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira recovered from them while six leaders of the cartels were arrested in different parts of the country.
The syndicates, which comprise Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa state; Onitsha, Anambra state, and Lagos state as well as Cameroonians came under NDLEA radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon.


Leaders of the syndicates so far arrested include: Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Nelson Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi Martin and Adejumo Elijah Ishola. Intelligence gathered revealed that some psychoactive substances including tramadol were often sourced by Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib from a notorious drug dealer in Onitsha: Nelson Udechukwu Anayo and thereafter packed and concealed in vehicles in the premises of Ezeh Amaechi Martin, an associate of Udechukwu.


The duo of Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib will thereafter transport the drugs from Onitsha to Yola and subsequently to other parts of the North and Cameroon in specially constructed false compartments of vehicles, which travel from the East to the North at night. On 7th October 2024, Bawuro and Najib were trailed from Onitsha where they had gone to buy another consignment and eventually arrested in Taraba the following day 8th October while a total of 276,500 pills of tramadol were recovered from a Toyota Avensis saloon car marked DKA 57 TT, which they abandoned on the Jalingo-Yola expressway when they noticed NDLEA operatives were on their trail.


Follow up operations were subsequently carried out in Delta and Anambra states where Ezeh Amaechi Martin and Udechukwu Nelson Anayo were arrested by operatives of the NDLEA Directorate of Intelligence, which coordinated the whole effort with their counterparts in Taraba, Adamawa, Delta and Anambra.
Another leader of a different syndicate, Adejumo Elijah Ishola, 37, was arrested by operatives of a special operation unit of the Agency on Tuesday 5th November at Seme border in Lagos on his way from Ghana with 3.3 kilograms of cocaine and 600grams of synthetic cannabis. This followed months of intelligence and surveillance on his cross-border criminal activities.


Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Apapa seaport Lagos on Wednesday 6th November intercepted Thirty-One Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand (31,750,000) pills of 240mg Voltron, a controlled opioid, packaged and concealed in a container imported from India, as diclofenac sodium 100mg tablets. The discovery was made during a joint examination of the container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, import shed Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 5th November intercepted a 700grams consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis. A software engineer, Olu Marshal who showed up to collect the package was promptly arrested and a follow up search of his home in Lekki led to the recovery of some drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher.
Attempt by another suspect, Orji Ogbonna Nnaorji to send 32.50kg bottles of codeine syrup and 5.70kg cannabis to London, UK, concealed in tiger nuts cargo through the export shed of the Lagos airport was frustrated by NDLEA operatives on Friday 8th November. A follow up operation led to the arrest of Orji at his warehouse in Ajao estate, Lagos.
In Kwara state, not less than 162,800 pills of opioids were seized by NDLEA operatives from four suspects during interdiction operations in parts of the state. While 112,200 tablets of tramadol were recovered from Wahab Alao Saliu, 18,900 tablets of same opioid were recovered from Dalha Musa both at Eiyenkorin area of Ilorin; 29,000 pills of tramadol, 200 ampoules of diazepam and 99 bottles of codeine syrup seized from Ahmed Isiaka, just as 2,500 tabs of tramadol were seized from Ahmed Garba, both at Bode Saadu in Moro local government area of the state on Friday 8th November.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday 7th November intercepted a truck along Abaji- Kwali road with 755.50kg cannabis concealed under empty cartons of noodles. The truck driver, Lukman Rasheed, 41, claimed that bags of the psychoactive substance were loaded into the trailer in Ogbese, Ondo state after departing Lagos with only empty cartons of noodles.
A suspect, Yusuf Abubakar, 43, was arrested by operatives on Monday 4th November at Ibi, Taraba state while conveying to Kano 361 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 156.95kg in a commercial bus marked WKR 772 XA. Not less than 245 blocks of same substance with a total weight of 121kg were recovered by NDLEA officers on patrol along Wukari – Ibi road on Thursday 7th November.
Two suspects: Hamza Yakubu, 30, and Abdulra’uf Danjuma, 23, were on Wednesday 6th November arrested at Gidan Manjagab area of Jos, Plateau state with 113 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 141kg, while a Chadian, Hassan Muhammad Ali, 31, was nabbed on Tuesday 5th November at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria-Kano road, Kano, with 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
While a suspect Ibrahim Adamu was arrested at Jere area of Kaduna state with 35 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 338.8 kilograms, NDLEA operatives in Edo state on Friday 8th November recovered 1,078kg cannabis at Okhuokhuo – Isi forest and 228kg of same substance at Sabo- Auchi.
In Ondo state, four suspects: Friday Daniel, Patrick Felix, Samuel Agada and Igwe Chukwuka were arrested at Emure Ile with 672kg cannabis sativa, while 513kg of same substance was seized at Gbodo camp, Ikun Akoko and a total of 4, 908kg cannabis recovered from a suspect Musibau Kosama at Alabi Yellow, Ijoka area of Akure on Wednesday 6th November.
Across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week. Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Park Royal College, Apapa Lagos; Government Secondary School, Atu, Cross River; Ladigbolu Grammar School 2, Oyo, Oyo state; Iman Secondary School, Arkilla, Sokoto; Rosary Girls College, Nise, Anambra; Havilah Gold Secondary School, Odomola, Epe, Lagos state; while the Edo State command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to HRM Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DI, SIU, Apapa, MMIA, FCT, Taraba, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, and Ondo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.

Amotekun Apprehends Notorious Gang Leader Plaguing Osun Villages

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In a significant security operation, the Amotekun Corps has arrested a notorious gang leader who has been terrorizing several communities across Osun State. The suspect, identified as the head of a gang involved in armed robberies and other criminal activities, was captured following a series of coordinated efforts by the regional security network.Residents in affected areas had reported an increase in violent incidents, prompting Amotekun to ramp up its patrols and intelligence-gathering operations. After weeks of tracking the gang’s movements, the Corps was able to locate and apprehend the suspect, marking a breakthrough in the fight against crime in Osun.

According to Amotekun officials, the arrest of the gang leader is expected to significantly reduce the rate of armed robberies and other criminal activities in the region. They reassured the public of their commitment to protecting the communities and maintaining safety.Local leaders and residents have praised the Corps for their dedication, expressing hope for a renewed sense of security. The arrest is seen as a victory for the community, highlighting the impact of regional security networks in tackling crime at the grassroots level.Further investigations are underway to dismantle any remaining parts of the gang’s network and bring its members to justice.

FCT Police Command Kill 2 Robbery Suspects, Arrests 23 Others

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By Ebinum Samuel

In its determination to protect lives and property of Nigerians and foreigners at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the police operatives swooped on suspected criminals operating in various parts of nation’s capital, kill 2 robbery suspects, nabbed 23 suspected persons and recovered 13 vehicles.

Reviewing the Command performance and parade of suspects yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, Olatunji Rilwanu Disu, disclosed that based on credible intelligence, detectives trailed some suspects to a hideout which led to arrest of three suspects.

The trio, he said belong to a notorious four-man gang who specialize in armed robbery and car snatching. This particular gang operates within FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Kano states. The gang is led by one Chidiebere (surname unknown), who is currently at large. Their mode of operation, Disu disclosed includes trailing unsuspecting victims to a convenient location where they strike, dispossessing their victims of their vehicles and any other valuables they can find. They proceed to disengage any tracking gadgets they can find installed in the vehicle, taking it to any of the above-mentioned states where they have ready buyers on standby. Disu confirmed that two of the suspects; Aji Thomas and Amobi Ndukwe are ex-convicts and have served their time in the prison and released, but were still on the commands watchlist went back to rejoin their other gang members who escaped arrest the last time. The suspects, he revealed were arrested while attempting to sell a stolen blue Toyota Corolla vehicle with Registration Number KTW 2155D to one of the Commands undercover operatives.
“During interrogation, they admitted to operating in Garki for the past year and a half, claiming responsibility for numerous car thefts within the metropolis”

“On 10 October 2024, following a distress call by one Mr. Philemon Olaoluwa who reported a case of car theft to Central Police Divisional Headquarters that his vehicle, a Honda Accord 2006 model, ash in color with registration Number RBC 40 NW developed a mechanical fault, prompting him to contract the services of one Abdulhamid Saidu (currently at large), who was recommended to him by his friends as a mechanic at Apo mechanic village FCT. The suspect however, came to pick up the vehicle at the victim’s residence for repairs. The victim who was unaware of the motives of the mechanic, released his vehicle with its document inside the car to the suspect who absconded with the said vehicle to and unknown destination. With the aid of Digital Tracking technology installed in the car, Police operatives of the FCT Command tracked the vehicle to Rayfield Jos, Plateau state where it was found in possession of one Joseph Abang who confessed that he received the vehicle from his accomplice, Abdulhamid Saidu. Abang is a notorious car theft suspect who specializes in receiving, rebranding and selling off vehicles stolen by his accomplices.
Abang was arrested at his workshop, two additional vehicles— a Hyundai Accent and Peugeot 208—undergoing rebranding and suspected to be stolen, were also recovered from him. He confessed to have rebranded and sold over 16 vehicles in the past four years. He is in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigation”

The CP told newsmen that on 21 October 2024, following a distress call about armed robbers operating at Femi Gbajabiamila Crescent, Jahi, Police operatives from the Mabushi Division swiftly mobilized to the scene. Two vehicles were seen speeding away from the residence of Iyoha Brian and Aliyu Adamu. On sighting the police patrol vehicle, the suspects opened fire engaging the Police in a heated gun duel and in the ensuing confrontation, two of the armed robbery suspects were neutralized by the Police. The other suspects took to their heels abandoning four of their operational vehicles

According Disu in a exceptional display of bravery, the police operatives chased after the fleeing suspects apprehending two suspects from Kaduna state and Bauchi states respectively, while others escaped with bullet wounds.
After a follow-up operation on 23 October 2024, two additional gang members who had earlier escaped from the scene were nabbed. The CP said during interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a notorious ten man gang of armed robbers who operate within Mabushi, Jahi, and Gishiri. This gang is led by one Dan Auwalu a.k.a Auwal who is currently at large. Efforts are on top gear to apprehend the gang leader and other gang members.

Disu further stated that the FCT Police Command in its continuous effort to rid the FCT of all forms of crime and criminality arrested 12 armed robbery suspects popularly known as one chance and recovered a total of six vehicles suspected to be their operational vehicle and one locally made barreta pistol.

Three of the suspects, Disu said belong to a gang of one chance operators who specialize in masquerading as Police and DSS officers, pick up unsuspecting victims and take them to unknown locations demanding ransom for their release. Luck ran out on them when on 12 October 2024, following a complaint from one Jeremiah David and Amaka Humina, both of Nasarawa state at Anti-One chance office that on the same date at about 12:00PM they were stopped by three men in a white colored Toyota Camry with Registration number ABJ 221 BV while on transit from Keffi to Abuja. The suspects forcefully ejected them from their vehicle claiming to be officers from the Department of State Service (DSS) who are on investigations.
They proceeded to drive them to an unknown destination, demanded that they call their family and raise money for their release. The suspects transferred the sum of four hundred thousand naira (N400,000) from the victims, and also collected an iphone 14 pro max, iphone 15 pro, Samsung S20 and a Samsung S8 plus from the victims.
On receipt of the Complaint, Police Operatives FCT Command trailed and arrested them.

In a similar operation, on 30 October 2024 at about 02:00 AM a Golf III Saloon vehicle used by suspected one chance operators was being burnt with their gang leader one Giwa (surname unknown) along NYSC Junction Kubwa. Police operatives quickly deployed to the scene, met a group of people who claimed that a gang of one chance operators who have been terrorizing Kubwa area were caught around NYSC junction and set ablaze while three others escaped the scene into the nearby bushes.
Police operatives launched a manhunt and arrested the other gang members who had escaped the scene at their hideout in Malaysia IDP Camp, Apo mechanic village. Suspects confessed to being members of a notorious one chance syndicate led by Giwa (now deceased), and have been operating along AYA to Zuba express way for over a year now. They are still in custody and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations.

“During interrogation, suspects confessed to the Police that they impersonate personnel of different security agencies with the aim of defrauding unsuspecting citizens and they have been operating on various routes within the FCT for the past two years. The following exhibits were recovered from them; One
gold-colored Toyota Corolla, Golf car, Corolla, Toyota Avalon, Nissan, Toyota matrix, locally made baretta pistol, a 9mm live ammunition and seven knives”

“As we continue to intensify our efforts against crime, I want to assure the residents of the FCT that we remain resolute in our duty to protect lives and property. The suspects paraded today will be charged to court after thorough investigations, and we will ensure that justice is served” said Disu