Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a Qatar-based businessman, Mr. Agu Amobi, and one Mr. Uchegbu Obi with alleged consignments of psychoactive substances.
A statement that was issued yesterday by the Spokesman of NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, alleged that Amobi was arrested last Saturday at the departure point of Terminal 2 of the MMIA on his way to Doha, Qatar on a Qatar Airways flight while Obi was taken into custody same day following the seizure of alleged consignment of 72,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, which he attempted shipping to Kano on a local flight.
According to Babafemi, Amobi who claimed he has been living and working in Doha, Qatar for over 10 years was allegedly caught with 1.3 kilogrammes cannabis sativa concealed in a bag of foodstuff.
He claimed he bought the substance in Enugu to deliver in Doha to enable him raise enough funds to pay his rents in Doha and Nigeria and school fees of his three children.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the domestic wing of the airport intercepted a carton containing a total of 72,000 pills of tramadol 250mg with a gross weight of 38.5 kilogrammes.
This was closely followed with the arrest of Uchegbu Obi who allegedly brought the consignment to the airport for shipment to Kano.
On Christmas day in Yobe State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Nguru-Gashua Road intercepted the trio of Mr. Musa Sani, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim and Mr. Adamu Usman in a truck allegedly conveying 39 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 15.7 kilogrammes and 128,500 pills of opioids.
According to Babafemi, follow up operations on December 26 led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the cannabis consignment, Mr. Ali Ibrahim (a.k.a Ramos) in Geidam where additional 208 blocks of the same substance were allegedly recovered from his house, bringing the total to 247 blocks weighing 94.74 kilogrammes, while the alleged owner of the seized opioids, Mustapha Goni (a.k.a Lolo) was equally arrested.
In Imo state, NDLEA operatives on Christmas eve while on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway intercepted a commercial bus driven by Mr. Peter Orji, 42, with alleged 400 bottles of codeine syrup; 7,590 pills of opioids including tramadol 225mg heading to Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
While Mr. David Michael, 52, was arrested at Unguwa Ukku area of Kano on Sunday, December 24 with alleged 49 blocks of cannabis weighing 42.6 kilogrammes, Mr. Umar Abdullahi, 27, was nabbed with alleged 27,350 pills of opioids at Gadar Tamburawa area of the city same day.
A 45-year-old Mr. Yusuf Yahaya was arrested same Christmas eve along Lagos-Ilorin Expressway with alleged 31 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis in a commercial bus coming from Ibadan, Oyo State to Kebbi State. Preliminary investigation revealed that he allegedly supplied illicit drugs to bandits in Kebbi and Zamfara axis.
Babafemi said that the NDLEA’s commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd) has tasked officers and men of the agency nationwide not to rest on the achievements of 2023 but continue to raise the bar in their offensive action against drug barons and cartels with an equal intensive WADA advocacy campaigns in the New Year.
Marwa took the occasion to wish all officers and men as well as their families, stakeholders and the general public a rewarding and fulfilling new year.
