NDLEA drug war has smashed two cocaine syndicates, claimed a Nigerian businessman, some kingpins, etc. The agency also intercepted N4.3bn worth of opioids.
On November 20, 2024, NDLEA operatives arrested 50-year-old businessman Osuoha Christian Iheanacho at Enugu Airport. The officers caught Iheanacho ingesting 90 wraps of cocaine, weighing 2.019 kilograms, after arriving from Addis Ababa.
NDLEA had been tracking him for months. He was placed under excretion observation after being intercepted. The suspect had traveled from Gabon to Douala, Cameroon, then Addis Ababa before reaching Enugu.Iheanacho admitted to using the drug trade to fund his struggling phone business in Lagos.
NDLEA drug war dismantles cocaine syndicates in Lagos
On November 21, 2024, NDLEA arrested Ndive Maxwell Obinna and five associates in Lagos. Operatives caught Obinna, the leader of a cocaine cartel, with 2.412 kilograms of cocaine.
The other arrested members include Okeke Gloria Ifeoma, Ikechebelu Emmanuel Chibuzor, Okorie Onyedikachi, and others.
In a related operation, NDLEA also dismantled a Chinese-led drug syndicate in Ikeja, Lagos. The agency also arrested Tianzhen Yen, 58, at a hotel with cocaine, methamphetamine, and drug equipment.
On November 22, 2024, NDLEA seized 92 parcels of Loud cannabis at the Tincan Seaport in Lagos.
The drugs, weighing 23.25 kilograms, were concealed in two vehicles imported from Canada.
At the Onne Port in Rivers State, NDLEA recovered 168,000 bottles of codeine syrup worth N1.17 billion.
They also seized 4.5 million pills of tramadol, worth N3.15 billion, bringing the total seizure to N4.32 billion.
NDLEA’s continued success
NDLEA’s anti-drug campaign has been a huge success across the country. In Ekiti, the agency arrested a 50-year-old disabled woman, Mustapha Boja, with cannabis in Ikere-Ekiti.
In Oyo State, NDLEA seized 64 kilograms of cannabis at Akinyele motor park on November 21.
Across Edo State, NDLEA seized 1,200.5 kilograms of cannabis, arresting suspects at multiple locations.
In Kano, NDLEA arrested four suspects with 45 kilograms of cannabis on November 19.
Ayuba Umar Zaranda, 55, was arrested with 124 kilograms of cannabis in Bauchi state.
NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) program in schools and communities nationwide. This includes sensitization in Katsina, Enugu, Kano, Rivers, and Ekiti states.
The program educates students, staff, and community leaders on the dangers of drug abuse, according to Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesman.
Leave feedback about this