*Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman/Chief Executive of Nigeria’s National Drug law Enforcement Agency, states the arrest drug kingpins is a warning to others still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As part of the regulatory agency’s offensive against drug trafficking and substance abuse, National Drug law Enforcement Agency has said its operatives apprehended two ladies and two men wanted in connection with over 16,000 kilograms (16 tons) of illicit drugs intercepted in Lagos, Abuja and Netherlands.

ConsumerConnect reports the NDLEA noted the recent arrests topped the list of suspects arresres in several parts of the country in the past week.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, Spokesperson of NDLEA, in a statement, said Lagos, anti-narcotics officers who have been on the trail of 48-year-old Aro Aderinde for weeks finally arrested him October 16, 2022, over his involvement in the export of 3,149kgs cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres via container number MSKU 1820587.

Likewise, two women: Hauwawu Bashiru and Basirat Adebisi Yahaya linked to the attempt to export 90 kilograms of methamphetamine through Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong of Promise of Zion Church, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, were equally arrested in Lagos and moved to Uyo to face charges along with the clergyman.

Babafemi also stated Pastor Effiong was earlier arrested August 6 this year.

The agency noted Monday Michael, 45, a notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, was also arrested October 17, while conveying 365.7kgs of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.

Another drug lord is Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47.

The statement disclosed he was wanted over the seizure of 5,640kgs cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja, was nabbed Sunday, October 16,  following the arrest of his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35, who was found at the store when it was raided.

In Edo State, NDLEA noted about 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kgs cannabis in parts of the state.

The operatives, October 29 stormed Ohusu forest boundary, Ovia South West Local Government Area where they recovered a total of 3,159.7kgs and arrested three suspects: Effiong Udo; Daniel Asuquo Ebong and Asuquo Effiong.

Similarly, the government’s anti-narcotics agency said the operatives last weekend intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus conveying 49 bags of C/S weighing 638.5kgs along Uwenusi road in Uhunmonde LGA, while 36kgs of the same substance stored in the bush along Uromi/Ubiaja road were equally recovered.

In another operation, three suspects: John Paul, Liberty Rolland, and Aboki Stephen were arrested at Okpe in Akoko Edo with 55kgs of cannabis.

According to Babafemi, the NDLEA siezed 127kgs of C/S and a suspect, Pius Okon John arrested while 854kgs of the same substance were recovered when operatives raided Okpe forest where some cannabis farms were destroyed.

Three suspects: David Obada, Blessing Okechukwu and Odoh Sunday caught with the 854kgs C/S were arrested.

The NDLEA operatives in Ondo State also stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of C/S that weighed 676kgs and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday, October 16, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kgs of cannabis at Ipele forest Tuesday, October 18.

In Kano, operatives arrested Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday, October 21, after they were caught with 538 blocks of C/S weighing 391.2kgs; 259,000 tablets of tramadol; 100 bottles of Codeine based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of pregabalin.

This followed the arrest of Abel John and Helen James with 328.7kgs C/S at Gonin gora area of Kaduna, while 5,000 tablets of tramadol and 25,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

A suspect, Yahaya Musa, was arrested Sunday, October 16 at Tashar Yari, Kaduna, with over 30,000 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5.

Meanwhile, in Bauchi, a suspect, Ogbonna Ikechukwu, was arrested at Gadar Maiwa, Ningi LGA, with 67, 960 tablets of various types of psychotropic substances while in Akwa Ibom state, operatives raided the Marina market, Eket, where quantities of illicit substances along with N1,193.060 cash and N849,000.00 fake currency were recovered from fleeing suspects.

Commending the officers and men of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Apapa Port Commands of the anti-narcotics Agency for the arrests and seizures, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, said the arrest of the fleeing drug kingpins is a warning signal to those still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

The NDLEA Chief charged officers and men across all commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartels until they are dismantled.