Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested two ladies and two men wanted in connection with over 16,000 kilograms of illicit drugs in Lagos, Abuja and the Netherlands.
A press statement by the Agency’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Baba Femi said in Lagos, anti-narcotics officers who have been on the trail of 48-year-old Aro Aderinde for weeks arrested him on Sunday, October 16th over his involvement in the export of 3,149kgs cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres.
In the same vein, two women Hauwa’u 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 in Akwa Ibom state to face charges along with the clergyman.
Also, a notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, Monday Michael, 45, was also arrested on Monday, 17th October while conveying 365.7kgs of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.
Another drug lord, Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47, wanted over the seizure of 5,640kgs cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje in Abuja, was nabbed on Sunday 16th October, following the arrest of his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35, who was found at the store when it was raided.
In Edo, at least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kgs cannabis in parts of the state.
Meanwhile, in Ondo state, operatives stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of substance abuse that weighed 676kgs and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday 16th October, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kgs of cannabis at Ipele forest on Tuesday 18th October.
Also, in Kano state, operatives arrested Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday 21st October after they were caught with 538 blocks of substance abuse weighing 391.2kgs, 259,000 tablets of tramadol, 100 bottles of Codeine based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of pregabalin.
In Bauchi state, 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 over One-million-naira fake currency were recovered from fleeing suspects.
The Chief Executive, NDLEA Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), while commending the officers and men of the affected commands for the seizures 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.
He charged officers and men across all commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartels until they are dismantled.
