Nigeria’s Anti-narcotic Agency, the National Drugs Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has intercepted 4,560 kilograms of skunk in its interdiction operations in Lagos, Adamawa and Osun states.
The NDLEA operatives also raided a skucchies factory in Ogun state and arrested four members of a drug syndicate including two church officials, female staff of a courier company and another lady, involved in trafficking lethal opioid, fentanyl, in Delta state.
The agency in a press statement by its spokesperson Mr. Femi BabaFemi, also said the bust of the fentanyl cartel operating from Warri, Delta state is coming barely a month after two members of another syndicate, Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma were arrested at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha, Anambra State.
“This follows months of intelligence-led investigation of the syndicates behind the dangerous drug, which is 100 times more potent than heroin and currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.”
BabaFemi said, two officials of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries (aka Mercy City Church), Warri, Delta state, Adewale Abayomi Ayeni, 39, and Ebipakebina Appeal, 41, linked to two intercepted consignments of the illicit drug have been arrested in Warri.
“While Ayeni is one of those managing the prayer call centre of the church, Ebipakebina is in charge of movement of international guests from the airport to the church.”
BabaFemi also said, two female accomplices were arrested in Warri in the course of investigating the intercepted shipments including Naomi David, 28, who is a staff of United Parcel Services (UPS), and Stacy Njideka, also known as Nkiruka, 27, who is a business associate of Ayeni.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Agency on Wednesday 5th July, intercepted a Toyota Hilux vehicle marked EPE 863 XD along Ngurore-Mayo Belwa road, Adamawa State.
“A search of the van with two occupants: Kelvin Efe, 51, and Christian Ogaga, 42, shows that 118 cartoons of Indomie Noodles packs were used to conceal 544 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 408kg hidden in a false compartment and meant for distribution in Yola, Mubi and Gombe.”
While in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 1st July arrested a suspect, Segun Odeyemi conveying 89 jumbo bags of skunk.
Operatives in Ogun state on Thursday 6th July, raided a skucchies factory at Ajaka Sagamu where a suspect, Adekunle Adekola was arrested with exhibits.
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The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, while commending the team of NDLEA officers, charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to set their eyes on the goal of ridding the nation of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
