The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old grandpa, Usman Bokina Bajama (alias Clemen) and other 21 suspects arrested in operations across seven states.
During the operations, the anti-narcotics agency recovered no fewer than 1,001,387 bottles/capsules of banned new psychoactive substances, Akuskura and tramadol.
Also, 2,536 kilograms of cannabis were seized and over 10 hectares of its farms were destroyed in Edo and Adamawa.
Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said: “the septuagenarian was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday 20th September at Anguwan Sate, Mararraban Tola, Mayo Belwa council area of Adamawa where he had a cannabis plantation from where 49kg of the illicit substance was recovered.”
Babafemi further disclosed that at least 19,878 bottles of the banned new psychoactive substance, Akuskura were intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Ilorin-Jebba highway, Kwara State on Wednesday 21st September, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Oladokun Oluwaseun, 49, and Ibrahim Jimoh, 27.
“They claimed the consignment packed in 35 jumbo sacks was loaded in Ibadan, Oyo state, and meant for distribution in Jos, Plateau state,” he added.
Earlier, the agency arrested two suspects, Ukoro Ifeanyi, 46, and Idowu Toyosi, 20, with 2,290 capsules of tramadol and 100 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Mararaba park, Ilorin.
The drugs were said to have been brought in from Onitsha, Anambra state.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a Volvo truck loaded with 2,146 kilograms of cannabis in Sangotedo area of Ajah.
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“Three suspects: Abdulazeez Rasheed; Afeez Raheem and Moshood Suleiman arrested.
“At least, 979,119 capsules of expired pregabalin weighing 733kg were recovered from Musbahu Ya’u, 28, and five others at Dansarai area of Kano, while in Enugu, 197.8kg cannabis was recovered in a store at new market, Enugu on Tuesday 20th Sept.
“In the same vein, 117.7kg of the psychoactive substance was intercepted along Okene-Abuja expressway in a truck coming from Lagos to Abuja.
“In Edo state, six cannabis farmers were arrested when NDLEA operatives stormed their farms at Chigbite, Utese forest in Ovia North East LGA and Ekudo forest, Uhunmonde LGA, where over 10 hectares of cannabis plantation were destroyed and more than 193kg of the processed illicit substance seized.
“Those arrested include David Hanson; Ufuoma Progress; Marvelous Armstrong; Marvelous Efe; Joshua Abubakar and Elijah Abubakar,” Babafemi stated.
Also, anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos have arrested two freight agents over attempts to smuggle 26.20kg cannabis concealed in cereal packs through the SAHCO shed for export to Dubai, UAE.
The consignment was abandoned at the shed before the airport security transferred it to NDLEA.
“Further investigation by the Agency led to the arrest of Olatunbosun Damilola Abimbola, 34, who works at Ashadox Logistics Services, a cargo company on Friday 23rd Sept.
“He confessed to the crime but stated that he acted on the instructions of his Managing Director, Oloyede Shakiru Abiola, who was promptly arrested.
“The 40-year-old indigene of Ibadan West Local Government Area of Oyo State stated that due to the strict security measures put in place by the NDLEA, he was forced to abandon the cargo to avoid being detected,” Babafemi added.
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