NDLEA arrests 10 online drug traffickers, directs search of dispatch riders

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has arrested  28-year-old Ese Patrick and Iyama Patrick as well as eight others in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, during which assorted drugs were recovered from them.

A press statement by the Director Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja Mr Femi Babafemi said “the first suspect, Ese Patrick who sells her illicit substances through Instagram account ‘Ese’sOvenSecret’ was tracked and arrested with some pieces of brownies ordered online by NDLEA’s undercover agents, on 21st May, 2021 and delivered by herself and her boyfriend in a Mercedes Benz car.

A follow up operation at her residence led to the seizure of 400 grams of Arizona weed, which she uses in baking the brownies.

Further investigation led to the arrest of one Iyama Patrick, with 450 grams of Arizona weed. He supplies Ese the cannabis she uses.”

According to the statement, “a day earlier, a motorcycle belonging to a courier company, Sky Port was abandoned by a despatch rider in Wuse zone 4 upon sighting NDLEA’s outpost in the area. The motorcycle was later found to contain several pinches of crack cocaine (a.k.a Challie), and some envelopes of Arizona meant for delivery.”

More arrest:

“Another online drug trafficker, Peter Nkejika was arrested on Monday 24th May 2021 following an arrest of a despatch rider with some quantity of Loud, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis. Each portion of loud costs N30, 000 and the rider was caught with 17 portions for delivery.”

“Also on Tuesday 25th May, NDLEA operatives intercepted two online drug transactions and arrested two despatch riders with some quantities of cocaine and Loud already packaged for delivery recovered from them.

In all, five despatch riders and a lady, Dolapo Benjamin who owns motorcycles involved in door to door distribution of drugs and drug based edibles; cakes and brownies were arrested while six despatch motorcycles involved in door to door drug distribution were seized.” The statement mentioned.

Items seized:

According to the statement, “items seized from them were assorted drugs, Cocaine, Crack /Challie, Molly/ Ecstasy, Skunk, Brownies and Loud, which is the most expensive psychoactive variant of cannabis in town.”

In a related development, “on the 27th May 2021, operatives intercepted 30 compressed parcels of cannabis, heading to Ningi, Bauchi state, as well as Rohypnol and Tramadol weighing 105.5 kilograms were seized along Gwagwalada- Abuja road, meant to be delivered to traffickers in FCT as well as many arrests and seizures recorded.” The statement said.

Following the latest arrests and seizures, the Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed the FCT Command of the Agency to immediately embark on stop and search of commercial despatch riders across the nation’s capital city to curb the online drug trafficking trend in the FCT. 

The statement commended the NDLEA Commander FCT Mohammed Malami Sokoto, his officers and men for the recent successes and sustaining the offensive against the latest trend in illicit drug trafficking in the nation’s seat of power. “The NDLEA boss also commended officers and men of DOGI for their vigilance and commitment to work.” The statement said.Pictures below:

Ime N