In a major crackdown on international drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended two notorious drug kingpins, Victor Nwosa and Felix Chika Obiegbu, in Lagos.
The operatives of the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) seized consignments of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine prepared for export to Europe and other destinations from their homes, following months of meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance on their illicit networks.
Behind the facade of legitimate businessmen, 64-year-old Nwosa, a self-styled successful textile merchant, and 49-year-old Obiegbu, known for his wine distribution venture, concealed their clandestine involvement in the illicit drug trade.
The agency, in a statement released to Persecondnews on Sunday, September 28, by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said while they were preparing their consignments for export, NDLEA-SOU operatives swooped on them in different parts of Lagos.
The statement said: “Nwosa was arrested on Wednesday, September 17, at his 16 Femi Kila street, Okota home where 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine were recovered during a search of his house.
“In his case, Obiegbu was arrested on Thursday, September 11 at his 5 Shada Shonefun street, Aguda Surulere home where in the course of a search, 2.902 kilograms of methamphetamine were uncovered and seized.
“Attempts by suspected suppliers of illicit drugs to terrorists and bandits in Borno and Yobe to move illicit drugs concealed in engine compartment of a Mercedes Benz jeep and a lady’s travelling bag were also thwarted by NDLEA operatives on stop and search operations in the two states.
“In Borno, following weeks of intelligence, NDLEA officers on Saturday, September 27, arrested Baba Kaka Ibrahim, 26, at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK marked JRE 987 AE towards Damaturu road. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 39, 380 pills of tramadol 225mg and exol-5 stuffed in the engine compartment of the jeep.
“Same day in Yobe state, NDLEA operatives intercepted a lady Halima Adamu along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, where 39 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.4kg were found concealed inside the casing of her travelling bag.
“A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of another lady linked to the consignment, Habiba Muhammad, at her Baga road, Maiduguri home.”
It also reads: “Two suspects: Aliyu Sani, 27, and Yahaya Tata, 26, were on Saturday, September 27 arrested by NDLEA operatives along Zaria – Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, Kano state with 30,030 pills of tramadol seized from them, while three suspects: Friday Elebechi, 35; Tobin Godgift, 30; and Aya Clement, 30, were arrested by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa on Monday, September 22 after 12kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis and 50 Diana AAA cartridges were recovered from them.
“A 45-year-old ex-convict Femi Owoeye (aka Do Good) was on Thursday, September 25, arrested by NDLEA officers at his 24 Oke-Igele street, Ikere Ekiti home. He was found in possession of 32kg skunk and 10.5grams of tramadol. He had been convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for a similar drug trafficking offence in 2016.
“In Kaduna, a suspect Adedamola Olayeni, 56, was on Monday, September 22, arrested with 404 blocks of skunk weighing 262.6kg at the Abuja – Kaduna tollgate. The consignment was found in his Honda Pilot jeep marked MKA 499 TT, coming from Osogbo, Osun state and heading to Katsina state.
“Another suspect, Zubairu Haruna, 30, was on Wednesday, September 24, found with 506grams of methamphetamine at the Gwantu – Fadan Karshi check point, Kaduna while a follow up operation in Gombe state led to the arrest of the actual receiver of the consignment Babangida Mohammed, 25.
“No fewer than 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids were seized from the trio of Dauda Abubakar; Abdullahi Umar and Ismaila Muhammed at Apapa area of Lagos on Monday, September 22, while NDLEA operatives in Abuja the following day Tuesday, September 23, arrested Opeyemi Ogundipe, 40, with 2.1kg Colorado along Abaji- Gwagwalada expressway.
“In Edo state, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, September 23, destroyed a total of 12,115.6kg skunk on 4.846244 hectares of cannabis plantation at Uromi forest in Esan West LGA where two suspects: Ernest Uche, 44, and Felix Mugorga, 31, were arrested and 345.5kg processed substance was evacuated.”
The statement equally reads: “At Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, no less than 12,031.245kg of same psychoactive substance was destroyed on 4.438442 hectares of cannabis farm on Wednesday, September 24, with 106.1kg processed consignment evacuated.
“A truck conveying 82 bags of skunk concealed in bags of charcoal with a total weight of 1,025kg was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Wareke-Auchi road, Etsako West LGA on Friday, September 26, while two suspects: Kabiru Abdulahi, 35; and Anas Safiyanu, 20, were apprehended in connection with the seizure.”
In like manner, Commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation 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 RCM Primary School 1, Igboora, Oyo; Champion International Academy, Enugu-Ezike, Enugu; Government Day Secondary School, Babban-Mutum, Katsina; Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; and Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos.
The Kogi state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ejeh Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu in Ankpa.
The NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit and various commands, including Borno, Yobe, Edo, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, FCT, Ekiti, and Bayelsa, for their outstanding work in making the arrests and seizures.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to maintain the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.
He noted that “the success of the various operations across the country underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security.
“Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities, reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security.”
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