- Another seizure occurred on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a commercial bus in Lokoja, Kogi State, carrying N3.2 million in counterfeit cash.
The suspects identified as Favour Peter, a 24-year-old who is eight months pregnant; Esther Adukwu, 27; and Ochigbo Michael, 39, were subsequently arrested at Jabi Park in Abuja on Tuesday, April 9, as part of a follow-up operation.
In a separate operation, NDLEA, in collaboration with personnel from the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard base in Lokoja, arrested 37-year-old Aliyu Lawal on the Lokoja-Abuja Road on Monday, April 8. Lawal was found transporting 620 blocks of cannabis weighing 310kg.
Another seizure occurred on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway where NDLEA operatives apprehended Jama Obodo, 44, with 10 sacks of cannabis weighing 98kg in a commercial bus traveling from Ilesha, Osun State, to Taraba State on Wednesday, April 10.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, detailed these incidents in a statement released on Sunday.
“In Cross River State, a 40-year-old widow and mother of two, Mrs. Theodora Ita was on Monday, April 8 arrested at Bassey Edom, Calabar, by NDLEA operatives for producing and selling a lethal new psychoactive substance, NPS, locally called ‘Combine’, which is a mixture of different strains of cannabis and opioids soaked in raw gin.
“At the time of her arrest, 18 litres of the dangerous substance in used paint drums were recovered from her. In her statement, she claimed she started the illicit drug production and distribution in October 2023. Another suspect, Godwin Okon Samuel, 48, was apprehended at Essit Ebum area of Calabar with 39.4kg of cannabis sativa on Tuesday 9th April.
“While two suspects: Sani Mohammed, 43, and Christopher Eze, 64, were arrested in Sabon Gari area of Kano on Tuesday 9th April with 900,000 pills of opioid recovered from them, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha road, Imo state on Friday 12th April intercepted a logistics truck with registration number JGB 403XB and recovered 230 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 119kg hidden under household items after a thorough search.
“At least 252 kilograms of cannabis were seized during a raid at Ijesa Isu forest, Ekiti state on Saturday 13th April while four suspects: Adamu Umar, 39; Abdullahi A Gimba, 27; Julius Uduakhomu, 28; and Micheal Sunday, 24, were nabbed loading 40kg of same substance to the engine compartment of a gas truck at Agho village, Owan East, Edo state. Two motorcycles used in conveying the consignment to where the gas truck heading to the North was parked, were also recovered.
“In Ogun state, a suspect, Ismaila Ogun was arrested on Friday 12th April with 79kg cannabis at Imeko, while 18-year-old Friday Abah was nabbed with 410kg of the same substance when NDLEA operatives raided Obatedo camp, Itaogbolu forest, Akure North LGA, Ondo State.”