Widow Caught Trying to Smuggle Cocaine with Fake Pregnancy in Lagos

A 50-year-old widow and fashion designer, Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, using a fake pregnancy as a facade to escape scrutiny and detection, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcements Agency (NDLEA) in an attempt to traffic 1.3kg of cocaine.

Ezewuike, a mother of one and proprietor of Golden Star Creation, a fashion business on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, was apprehended at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, on Friday, August 22, while attempting to transport the cocaine to customers in Abuja.

According to Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, a follow up operation at her house in Ago palace area led to the recovery of 200 grams of cutting agent used in the production of a strain of cocaine.

Babafemi said in a statement sent to Persecondnews on Sunday, August 24, that according to Ezewuike’s statement, she claimed to have inherited the criminal trade from her husband, who died two years ago, although she had been in the fashion business for 20 years.

It stated: “Not less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States of America and concealed in three cartons of kitchen sink were intercepted at a courier company in Lagos on Tuesday, August 19, by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI).

“In Adamawa, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Friday, August 22, raided the home of a notorious drug dealer Idris Garba who scaled the fence to escape arrest while one of his associates Boniface Nnaji, 55, who attempted same was caught in the act at Rumde Baru area of Yola South.

“Recovered from the premises include a black Toyota Thundra jeep marked FST- 885-CZ driven to Yola by Nnaji to supply Garba 354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and others as well as a Toyota Yaris car with registration number DSA 776 AA.

“A total of 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection were seized from a suspect Neche Okonkwo at the Idah waterside after crossing the River Niger from Onitsha, Anambra state to Lokoja, Kogi state with the opioids on Wednesday, August 20.

“In Kano, the duo of Buhari Ibrahim, 25, and Mansur Musa, 24, were nabbed at Zangon Dakata Ungogo, with 5,850 capsules of pregabaline on Tuesday, August 19, while a total of 452,070 pills of opioids were recovered from the home of a suspect Rabilu Mukhtar who is at large, at Rangaza, Ungogo LGA.

“Also, the Agency arrested Buhari Idris, 35, in the Tashan Rami area of the state with 140 litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday, August 19.”

The statement also reads: “No fewer than 7,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from Adamu Yusuf, 29, along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora area of the state on Saturday August 23.

“A total of 2, 289.49 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis were intercepted in three interdiction operations by NDLEA operatives in Kwara state. While 1,232.86kg was recovered from a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked ZUR 66 XT on Wednesday, August 20, at Ajase-Ipo area of the state with a suspect, Kabiru Abdullahi arrested.

“Another consignment of same psychoactive substance weighing 328.42kg was seized from Paul Olaniran, 47, in a Mercedes Benz truck marked LSD 659 YE same day, same location.

“The following day Thursday, August 21, NDLEA operatives intercepted another consignment of skunk weighing 728.21kg in a Mitsubishi Canter truck with registration number GAD 287 XA, at Ajase-Ipo junction, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state where two suspects: Abubakar Zaki, 44; and Yau Babangida, 45, were arrested.

“Similarly, two suspects: Awe Sunday, 50; and Ayodele Adedayo, 54, were nabbed at Alafia Quarters, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti state in connection with the seizure of 96 kilograms of skunk.

“In Taraba, NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Civil Defence Corps personnel on Wednesday, August 20, destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares of farmland at Dadin Kowa village, Bali LGA, while 901kg of same substance was recovered from a warehouse at Uzebba in Owan West LGA, Edo State where a 54-year-old female suspect Fodo Stella Sunday was arrested on Tuesday, August 19.”

According to the agency, in other operations in Edo state, a total of 14,233.37 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on four plantations that measured 5.69375 hectares at Ebule forest, Owan West Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 20.

Also in Delta state, NDLEA operatives supported by the military destroyed a total of 25,500kg skunk on four plantations measuring 10.2 hectares in Emu-Obiogu community, Ndokwa West LGA on Thursday, August 21, while in Ondo state, 25,025kg of same psychoactive substance was destroyed on three farms with a combined measurement of 10.01 hectares at Asolo camp, Uso area of the state.

“Two dispatch riders were on Thursday, August 21, arrested by NDLEA officers in a stop and search operation in Jabi area of Abuja for distributing illicit substances in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
While Garba Sule, 29, was caught with 300 milligrams of pentazocine injection, Isaac Augustine, 35, was nabbed with 8.64grams of skunk packaged for delivery,” the statement said.

It noted that the agency’s commands and formations nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities over the past week.

These include a WADA enlightenment lecture to women and teachers at Women Islamiyya School, Kanti Central mosque, Kanti, Katsina state, and to students and staff of Fathul Bari Islamiyya, Hayin Gwarmai, Bebeji LGA, Kano.

Meanwhile, the Abia state command conducted a WADA advocacy visit to Gov. Alex Otti, whilst the Zone 4 command of the Agency undertook a WADA advocacy visit to HRH Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah, in his palace in Doma, Nasarawa state.

The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Delta, Adamawa, FCT, Ondo, Ekiti and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity.

He also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.