The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested no fewer than 41 suspects in Abuja and Kaduna State for drug related crimes.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that at least, 30 suspects were arrested at Malali area of Kaduna during raids aimed at destroying drug joints across the state.

He said that a suspect, Usman Dahiru was arrested with 24kg cannabis concealed in two sacks of used clothes on March 3, along Abuja-Kaduna express road.

He added that another suspect, Abdulrazaq Rabi’u was also arrested with 100,000 counterfeit US dollars.

He also added that NDLEA operatives in Anambra recovered 38,862 red star cartridges along with 13 cartons of illicit drugs when they raided a warehouse in Onitsha.

The NDLEA spokesperson said that 11 suspects were arrested and 81.2kg of drugs were seized in a major raid on March 5.

This he said were in black spots like Torabora, Karu Abattoir, Jabi motor park and Forest all in FCT, Abuja.

Meanwhile, a principal suspect in the importation of 451,807 Captagon tablets weighing 79.119kg in September at Apapa Seaport Lagos, had been taken into custody after six months on the run.

Babafemi said the suspect, Nwoku Uche, 36, Known as ‘Jihadist drug’, added that the consignment was the first ever recorded seizure of Captagon in West and Central African Sub-Region.

“In his statements, he claimed to have met the person who gave him the job on LinkedIn while he was paid N5m to clear the container.

“He then used a third party bank account to process the Form M for the clearing of the illicit consignment,” he said.

Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending officers and men of Kaduna, Anambra, FCT, Apapa port for the arrests and seizures

Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and on the offensive until all drug cartels in Nigeria were completely dismantled.

In a related development, NDLEA has intercepted no fewer than 294,440 tablets of Tramadol, Diazepam, Swinol, Rohyphnol, and Exol-5, along with other illicit drugs in major operations.

This is contained in another statement by Babafemi, the NDLEA Director, Media, and Advocacy.

He said that the operations were carried out in Delta, Bauchi, and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA,), Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, in Delta, one Christian Onah, 42, who was conveying drugs to Benin and Onitsha , Anambra state, was arrested at Isele- Azagba junction with 23,160 tablets of Swinol and 66,000 tablets of Rohypnol, both weighing 71.6kg.

“In another arrest, a commercial vehicle from Onitsha heading to Ibadan, Oyo state, was intercepted at Abraka junction, Asaba, on Wednesday, March 2, with 78,000 capsules of Tramadol.

“5,000 tablets of Diazepam and 97,500 tablets of Exol-5, were also seized while a suspect, Olaniyan Sunday, 42, was arrested.

“At least, one female suspect, Patricia Saduwa, 42, was arrested with 233.7kg cannabis during a raid in Orogun community, close to Abbi town, in Kwale LGA, Delta state, on Friday, March 4.

“The raid of another house in the community on the same day, led to the seizure of 123.7kg of cannabis while the owner is still at large,” he said.

Babafemi said that operatives, acting on credible intelligence, raided a warehouse at Gadar- Maiwa, Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi.

He said that 542.5kg of cannabis; 6,800 tablets of Diazepam and 12,400 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered on Wednesday, March 2.

“At MMIA, one Audu Muhammed, was arrested at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed on Saturday, March 5, with 1.550kg of cannabis concealed in golden morn cereal packs meant for Dubai, UAE.

“Two days earlier, Thursday, March, 3, a suspect, Olalekan Wasiu Ayinde, was similarly arrested at the export shed with 4,980 capsules of Tramadol.

“600 capsules of Rohypnol and some designer drugs concealed inside locust beans and hidden among food items for export to South Africa were intercepted,” he said.

Babafemi said the Chairman, NDLEA, retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, commended officers and men of the Delta, Bauchi, and MMIA commands of the agency.

Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and on the offensive until all drug cartels in Nigeria were completely dismantled. (NAN)

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