NDLEA

A statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said that not less than 223.5kg processed cannabis and seeds were recovered from four farms in Edo.

Giving a breakdown, Babafemi said that a total of 10,897.35kg skunk was destroyed on four farms, measuring 4.358938 hectares at Ugbodo forest, Ovia North East LGA in Edo, on Friday, Oct. 3.

Babafemi said that two suspects: Michael Ayang, 40, and Bernard New Year, (a.ka Don), 47, were arrested.

Also, in Edo, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, Oct. 1, intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked KUJ 47 NW loaded with 22 bags of skunk weighing 244.5kg at Igbanke, Orhionwon LGA and a suspect, Ineh Excellent Obindi, 28, arrested.

Similarly, Babafemi said that three suspects: Chuimieze Shedrack, 28; Sunday John, 25, and Solomon Okopko, 27, were nabbed by NDLEA officers on Thursday, Oct. 2, at Owena/Ijesha forest reserve, Osun state.

This, he said was where they destroyed 14,000kg skunk on 5.6 hectares of cannabis plantation and recovered 142kg of same psychoactive substance.

Meanwhile, Operatives on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway intercepted a waybill parcel coming from Lagos to Abuja containing 3.272kg Loud and a sachet of Colorado.

Babafemi said that a follow up operation at Gwagwalada park in Abuja led to the arrest of the owner, Tobi Odubote, 34.

He said that another suspect Ismail Abdurrahim, 32, was arrested in possession of 25.5kg skunk on Abaji- Abuja Expressway on Thursday, Oct. 2.

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 sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Hammawa Toungo, Adamawa.

Others are Government Day Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina; Day Secondary School, Unguwan Nasarawa, Kontogora, Niger; and traders at Ladega market Ikorodu, Lagos.

Babafemi said that the Imo State Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, Wife of the governor, at Government House, Owerri, among others.(NAN)

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the arrest followed series of intelligence led operations that lasted over three weeks across Lagos.

He said that the operation also led to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Ode, who represented himself as a businessman and real estate developer.

The spokesman added that the beginning of the end of the criminal syndicate’s operations began on Sept. 16 when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine.

According to him, the drugs which weighed 13.40 kilograms were concealed in walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.

Babafemi said that a cargo agent was promptly arrested adding that further investigations revealed Alhaji Hammed Ode as the mastermind of the shipment.

According to him, after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 headquarters of the Police in Lagos.

This, be said was after which the Agency sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody.

“During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment which he claimed he bought at over N150 million.

“He claimed to be a businessman and estate developer following his return from the United Kingdom in 2024.

“He had lived for over 27 years in many European countries including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia before settling in the UK,”Babafemi said.

In like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also frustrated by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

Babafemi said that the unravelling of the gang started on Sept. 26 following the seizure of cocaine weighing 2.10kg concealed in walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

He said that the apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at his 3 Arowojobe St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base.

This, he said, was where another consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.

“Same day, another consignment of 1.00kg cocaine with similar mode of concealment also going to the UK was also intercepted at the export shed of the airport.

“The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect,” he said.

Babafemi said that two other cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thursday, Oct. 2.

He said that two suspects: Ogunbiyi Oluseye and Popoola Olumuyiwa linked to the seizures were promptly arrested.

“One of the consignments contains crayfish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg cocaine.

“The second consignment also contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine,”he said.(NAN)

This is contained in a statement on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi said a syndicate’s attempt to smuggle cannabis from Thailand to Lagos through courier firms was also foiled.

He said 6.3kg of Loud, a potent cannabis strain, was discovered concealed in bedsheets and dried hibiscus flowers.

Babafemi said the package was intercepted by NDLEA operatives working with courier companies in Lagos.

He said in Kano, a joint operation between NDLEA and Customs on Danbatta–Daura Road led to the arrest of one 38-year-old suspect.

“Officers seized 290,450 tramadol pills and pregabalin capsules during the operation.

“In Lagos, operatives also arrested a notorious drug dealer, on Admiralty Road, Lekki, who was caught with 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, packaged in cups,” he said.

Babafemi added that on the same day, three suspects, were arrested in Mushin with 109 kg of skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup, and 2kg of nitrous oxide.

“At the Trade Fair Complex in the Alaba area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired 225mg diclofenac in a separate warehouse raid,” he said.

He further said that in Kwara, 27,700 pills of tramadol (100mg/225mg) were seized from a 25-year-old suspect on Sept. 29, during a stop-and-search operation in Bode Saadu, Moro Local Government Area.

”Similarly in Kaduna, a suspect aged 50, was arrested with 498.5kg of skunk at Kudandan in Chikun LGA, while another 27 years old suspect was nabbed with 34,180 tramadol capsules on Kaduna–Zaria road.

”Alao on Sept. 29, NDLEA officers raided a location in Isheri, Obafemi Owode LGA, of Ogun, arresting one suspect with 112kg of skunk and 16 grams of tramadol hidden in the premises,” said. (NAN)

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that NDLEA officers on Tuesday, Sept. 23 destroyed a total of 12,115.6kg of skunk on 4.846244 hectares of cannabis plantation at Uromi forest in Esan West LGA in Edo.

He said two suspects were arrested and 345.5kg of processed substance was evacuated.

Also, at Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, in Edo, 12,031.245kg of the same psychoactive substance was destroyed on Sept. 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 in Edo.”

He said two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

According to him, another two suspects were on Saturday, Sept. 27 arrested by NDLEA operatives along Zaria – Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa, Kano state.

Babafemi said that 30,030 pills of tramadol were seized from them.

He also spoke of three suspects arrested by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa on Monday, Sept. 22.

This, he said, was after 12kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis and 50 Diana AAA cartridges were recovered from them.

In the same vein, a 45-year-old ex-convict was on Thursday, Sept. 25 arrested by NDLEA officers at his 24 Oke-Igele street, Ikere Ekiti home.

Babafemi said that the suspect was found in possession of 32kg skunk and 10.5grams of tramadol.

He said that the suspect had been convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for a similar drug trafficking offence in 2016.(NAN)

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspects were arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the NDLEA.

This, he said, was after consignments of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine being prepared for export to Europe and beyond were recovered from their Lagos homes.

This, he added, were following weeks of intelligence and surveillance on their criminal networks.

Babafemi, however, said that the 64-year-old Nwosa paraded himself as a successful textile merchant, adding that 49-year-old Obiegbu was known to many as a businessman who was into wine distribution.

According to him, beneath their outward appearance is their hidden illicit drug business unearthed by NDLEA operatives after months of intelligence gathering on the two syndicates led by them.

“At the time they were preparing their consignments for export, NDLEA-SOU operatives who had for months put them under surveillance, swooped on them in different parts of Lagos. .

“Nwosa was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 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 11th September 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,”he said.

Meanwhile, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives stopped attempts by suspected suppliers of illicit drugs to terrorists and bandits in Borno and Yobe to move illicit drugs concealed in the engine compartment of a Mercedes Benz jeep.

Babafemi also said that a lady’s travelling bag was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives on stop and search operations in the two states.

According to him, in Borno, following weeks of intelligence, NDLEA officers on Saturday, Sept. 2 l arrested 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.

“The same day in Yobe state, NDLEA operatives intercepted a lady Halima Adamu along Damaturu-Maiduguri road.

“This is 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,” he said.(NAN)

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the drugs were seized from a trio of Dauda Abubakar; Abdullahi Umar and Ismaila Muhammed on Monday, Sept. 22.

He added that the NDLEA operatives in Abuja the following day Tuesday, Sept. 23, arrested Opeyemi Ogundipe, 40, with 2.1kg Colorado along Abaji- Gwagwalada expressway.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna, a suspect Adedamola Olayeni, 56, was on Monday, Sept. 22 arrested with 404 blocks of skunk weighing 262.6kg at the Abuja – Kaduna tollgate.

Babafemi said that the consignment was found in his Honda Pilot jeep marked MKA 499 TT, coming from Osogbo, Osun  and heading to Katsina state.

Also, another suspect, Zubairu Haruna, 30, was on Wednesday, Sept. 24 found with 506grams of methamphetamine at the Gwantu – Fadan Karshi check point, Kaduna.

Babafemi said that a follow up operation in Gombe state led to the arrest of the actual receiver of the consignment Babangida Mohammed, 25.

In like manner, Babafemi said that 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.

This, he said 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.

“Others are Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos among others.

“The Kogi state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ejeh Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu in Ankpa,”he said.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, FCT and Ekiti Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues nationwide to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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.”(NAN)

In a statement by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja, he said no fewer than 233,800 pills of tramadol were recovered in Adamawa by operatives of the agency.

Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives in Adamawa conducted three raids with two suspects arrested in parts of the state.

He said that a total of 195,600 pills of the opioid were recovered from an abandoned Toyota Sienna vehicle in the Mayo-Belwa on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

He also said a suspect was nabbed in Jambutu ward of  Yola with 27,900 pills of tramadol discovered in her bedroom, while another suspect was arrested with 10,300 pills of the same substance at Namtari checkpoint.

In Zamfara, 109 bags of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,099.4 kg, were seized from a suspect by operatives.

Babafemi said that the operation was supported by members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG) along Gummi-Daki Takwas road in Zamfara.

He said that they were nabbed while conveying the consignment in a Mitsubishi Canter truck marked LRN 568XB, to a village called Company in Gummi Local Government Area (LGA) on Sept. 20.

Similarly, two suspects were also arrested with 14, 000 capsules of tramadol along Damaturu-Potiskum road in Yobe.

Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives in Taraba also nabbed a suspect with three sacks of skunk that weighed 25.525kg at Garba-Chede in Bali LGA.

According to him, 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 sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Sultan Abdulrahman College of Health Technology, Gwadabawa, Sokoto, Sarki Abdul Primary School, Dankama border town, Katsina and Government Secondary School, Gwaram, in Jigawa.

“Others are;  St. Mary Junior Secondary School, North Bank Makurdi, Benue and Ummulkhair Islamiyya, Tudun Wada, in Kano.

“The Zone 11 Command of the NDLEA also paid a WADA advocacy visit to wife of the governor of Enugu, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, among others.(NAN)

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that the suspect was arrested on Sept. 14 by Aviation Security Officers of FAAN in collaboration with NDLEA operatives attached to the screening point of terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

Babafemi said that after a thorough search, two big parcels of white crystalline substance was recovered from her butt pad underwear, which later tested positive to methamphetamine with a gross weight of 1.40 kg.

“During a preliminary interview with Ebere, she claimed she trades in used clothing and also operates a POS business in Enugu, where she was recruited into the illicit drug business,” he said.

He said that at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc, (NAHCO) export shed of the Lagos airport, operatives also intercepted a consignment of food items used to conceal 40 wraps of methamphetamine with a total weight of 2.30 kg heading to Hong Kong via Turkish Airlines.

He said that a 59-year-old suspect who presented the consignment as part of a consolidated cargo, had been taken into custody.

Also, another consignment of illicit drug packaged for Europe was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier company in Lagos on Sept. 18.

“During a thorough examination of the shipment, seven pieces of phone chargers going to New Zealand were found to contain 257 grams of cocaine,”he said.

In Edo, two cannabis farms located at Atororo forest in Owan West Local Government Area were destroyed by NDLEA officers.

Babafemi said that the farm with an estimated yield of 11,330.0625kg had 11 bags of processed skunk and seeds weighing 148kg were recovered with three suspects arrested.

Reacting, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa said that the arrests and seizures represented a significant milestone in the determined effort to dismantle drug trafficking organisations operating in Nigeria and around the world.

Marwa said the agency would prioritise tackling those who target the productive youth population with illicit substances, until they were no longer able to harm  communities or tarnish the country’s image on the global stage.

He commended the officers and men in various commands for their various successful operations.

Marwa enjoined them to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.(NAN)

This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that they were excreted after days in observatory custody following their arrest by operatives of the NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA),  Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that one of the suspects was arrested on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at terminal 2 of the Lagos airport upon his arrival from Laos, Brazil on an Ethiopian airlines flight.

He also said the suspect was taken for a body scan which confirmed ingestion of illicit drugs.

According to him, the suspects had left Nigeria for Brazil on Sept. 3 to courier the consignment to Lagos for a reward of $2,500 upon successful delivery.

“A swift follow-up operation was conducted at Eliata Hotel in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

“This is where Ofoma was instructed to meet Nweke Chuckwudi who was designated to oversee the excretion of the drugs at the hotel and recover them.

“The 55-year-old Nweke was arrested in the process. A total of 111 wraps of heroin weighing 1.452 kilograms were egested in eight excretions by Ofoma,” he said.

Similarly, another Brazil returnee was arrested at the Lagos airport during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines passengers from Brazil via Addis Ababa on Friday 19th September.

Babafemi said that the suspect was taken for body scan which confirmed illicit drug insertion adding that under excretion observation, he expelled five big wraps of cocaine weighing 145 grams.

“In his statement, he confessed to have bought nine wraps of the class A drug in Brazil and inserted all into his anus, a process he claimed took him nearly two hours.

“During his transit through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he said he began to experience severe anal pain and decided to remove the wraps from his body.

“He stated that in an attempt to meet up with his connecting flight to Nigeria, he could only manage to reinsert seven wraps, after which he flushed the remaining two wraps in a toilet,” he said.

Babafemi said that the suspect also revealed that while on board his flight to Nigeria, he felt pressed and uncomfortable, which compelled him to use the lavatory.

According to him, during the process, he expelled an additional two wraps, leaving him with only five wraps in his anus. He claimed to have been into clothing business before traveling to Brazil in 2017.

“In 2020, he moved to the United States, where he was arrested for immigration offence and was detained for over a year before being deported to Nigeria in 2022.

“In March 2025, he returned to Brazil, where he currently works, having already obtained a Brazilian residence permit,”(NAN)