If not for the quick intervention of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, eight hundred and forty nine thousand (N849,000.00) fake currency would have got into innocent hands but that is not to be as the agency’s operatives raided the Marina market, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where the money was recovered from fleeing suspects along with quantities of illicit substances.
About one million, one hundred and ninety three thousand and sixty naira (N1,193.060) cash was also recovered.
This was according to Femi Babafemi, the Spokesperson for the anti-narcortic agency, while waging war against illicits drugs and dealers.
The agency also sated that a man and his wife were arrested in connection with the seizure of 5,640kgs cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja.
He narrated that the drug lord, Abdulkadir Mohammed, 47 years, wanted over the seizure of 5,640kgs cannabis at a warehouse in Chukuku area of Kuje, Abuja, was nabbed on Sunday 16th October, following the arrest of his wife, Saadatu Abdullahi, 35 years who was found at the store when it was raided.
Babafemi also stated that a-48-year-old Aro Aderinde was picked up by anti-narcotics officers who have been on the trail of a suspect for weeks arrested him in Lagos on Sunday 16th October over his involvement in the export of 3,149kgs cannabis sativa concealed in coconut fibres via container number MSKU 1820587.
Two women: Hauwawu Bashiru and Basirat Adebisi Yahaya linked to the attempt to export 90 kilograms of methamphetamine through a clergyman, Pastor Anietie Okon Effiong of Promise of Zion Church, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, were equally arrested in Lagos.
The suspects have been moved to Uyo to face charges along with Pastor Effiong who was earlier arrested on Saturday 6th August.
A notorious drug dealer in the Mushin-Isolo axis of Lagos, Monday Michael, 45 years was also arrested on Monday 17th October while conveying 365.7kgs of cannabis in two Toyota Sienna space buses marked FST 189 FD and FST 273 GF.
In Edo, at least 10 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2kgs cannabis in parts of the state. Among the suspects were the trio of Effiong Udo, Daniel Asuquo Ebong and Asuquo Effiong were arrested on Wednesday 19th October, when operatives stormed Ohusu forest boundary, Ovia South West local government area where they recovered a total of 3,159.7kgs.
Similarly, on Saturday 22nd October, operatives intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus conveying 49 bags of C/S weighing 638.5kgs along Uwenusi road in Uhunmonde LGA, while 36kgs of the same substance stored in the bush along Uromi/Ubiaja road were equally recovered.
In another operation, three suspects: John Paul, Liberty Rolland, and Aboki Stephen were arrested at Okpe in Akoko Edo with 55kgs of cannabis.
The agency noted that not less than 127kgs of C/S were seized and a suspect, Pius Okon John arrested while 854kgs of the same substance were recovered when operatives raided Okpe forest where some cannabis farms were destroyed. Also the likes of David Obada, Blessing Okechukwu and Odoh Sunday were caught with 854kgs C/S
Operatives also stormed the Aponmu forest in Idanre LGA where 52 bags of C/S that weighed 676kgs and the truck being used to load the consignment were recovered on Sunday 16th October, while the trio of Christopher Amuzoga, Chikogu Samuel and Ijeoma Okenna were arrested with 690kgs of cannabis at Ipele forest, Ondo state on Tuesday 18th October.
In Kano, operatives arrested Isah Suleman Mohammed and Sandra Okafor at Dakata area on Friday 21st October after they were caught with 538 blocks of C/S weighing 391.2kgs; 259,000 tablets of tramadol; 100 bottles of Codeine based syrup, and 150,000 tablets of pregabalin, a statement by Babafemi said.
He explained that this followed the arrest of Abel John and Helen James with 328.7kgs C/S at Gonin gora area of Kaduna, while 5,000 tablets of tramadol and 25,000 tablets of Exol-5 were recovered along Abuja-Kaduna express road.
Besides, a suspect, Yahaya Musa, was arrested on Sunday 16th October at Tashar Yari, Kaduna, with over 30,000 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 while one Ogbonna Ikechukwu, was arrested at Gadar Maiwa, Ningi LGA, in Bauchi with 67,960 tablets of various types of psychotropic substances.
Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), was full of commendation for officers and men of Lagos, Ondo, Edo, FCT, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Kaduna, and Apapa Port Commands of the anti-narcotics Agency for the arrests and seizures.
He said the arrest of the fleeing drug kingpins is a warning signal to those still in the criminal illicit drug trade that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them, therefore he charged officers and men across all Commands to intensify the heat on the drug cartels until they are dismantled.
