Port Workers Arrested by NDLEA, Seizing 1,044kg of Cocaine in Nigeria
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has started to identify individuals inside an organized criminal group that is responsible for the recent importation of two containers from Durban, South Africa, to the Tincan harbor in Lagos. The containers were loaded with illegal substances, weapons, and ammunition.
Anjorin Idowu, a dock worker, Uzairu Ahmed Iguda, the port’s supervisor of the Five Star terminal, and Falowo Samuel Kayode, a clearance and notification party of the two containers, were among those already detained as syndicate members.
Mohammed Muktar Sule, also a dock worker at the terminal and similarly associated with the syndicate, is out of commission at the moment.
The Anti-Narcotic Agency has asked for a 100% joint assessment of two South African containers with the markings MSCU 4581770 and TRHU 7968071, based on reliable intelligence. Therefore, on January 18 and 19, 2024, the exercise was carried out with the participation of other stakeholders, and at that time, containers containing 56.39 kg of cocaine and 795 kg of Colorado, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, among other illicit goods, were found.
More 192.7 kg bags of Colorado, a pistol, and rounds of ammunition were found hidden in an empty container before the 100% joint examination at the Five Star terminal, following a tasking order from the chairman/chief executive officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), to a combined team of specialized units of the agency to uncover those behind the importation of the large consignments of illicit drugs.
Two suspects have been taken into custody: Uzairu Ahmed Iguda, who oversees the terminal’s container placing and stacking, and Anjorin Idowu, a dock worker. The announcement was signed by the Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
Another suspect, Mohammed Muktar Sule (also known as the organizer), is a dock worker at the facility and is now at large. According to investigations, the three suspects planned to relocate the 192.7 kg Colorado handgun and rounds of ammunition from the container to an empty container at the terminal with the help of the agent and notify party, Falowo Samuel Kayode.
With the most recent seizure, the total weight of the two containers that was discovered was 1,044.29 kg, consisting of 987.9 kg of Colorado and 56.39 kg of cocaine. Three kingpins who are thought to be based in South Africa and involved in the importation of the containers have also been identified via investigations. They are currently on the Agency’s wanted list, and they include Odeyemi Taiwo Emmanuel, Akinyemi Olayinka, and Adebayo Adewole Emmanuel,” he said.
In the meantime, on Tuesday, February 20, NDLEA agents in Edo state raided a drug den under a powerline off Etete Road, GRA Benin City, where they found various illegal narcotics and detained a 24-year-old salesgirl named Jessica Destiny. The proprietor of the joint, 36-year-old Ibrahim Sani, the Commander of the local Arewa Association Vigilantes, was taken into custody after a follow-up operation the next day.
On Wednesday, February 21, authorities in Badagry Waterside, Lagos, retrieved a consignment of 179 kg cannabis. On Thursday, February 22, in Magbon, Ogun State, a 67-year-old grandfather named Rafiu Ogunro was apprehended with 57 kg of cannabis, 2,700 tramadol pills, and 231 bottles of Codeine syrup, totaling 2.31 liters.
Tuesday, February 20, saw the arrest of 25-year-old Zara Mele in Borno State at the Baga checkpoint with quantities of heroin and cocaine. The same day, Mohammed Lawan, 22, and Usman Shuaibu, 26, were also apprehended in Maiduguri at the Meri and Babban Layi areas with quantities of the same class A drug.
NDLEA officers in Kebbi state stopped Tasiu Mohammed, 25, and Abubakar Tanko, 54, as they were transporting 44,820 opioid pills to Zamfara state along the Jega-Sokoto road. Meanwhile, Ali Abdulhamid, 35, was detained at his farm in Bakin Kasuwa village, Birnin Yero area of Igabi LGA, Kaduna state, where he grows tomatoes and some stems of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilograms.
On Monday, February 19, NDLEA officers stopped two suspects, Shuaibu Ahmed, 38, and Tanimu Abdullahi, 29, who were traveling from Lagos to Kano in a commercial bus carrying 99 blocks of cannabis weighing 37 kg. Additionally, Michael Okefi was detained at the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra state, with 483 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine hidden in two 50-liter kegs. After a follow-up, Osinachi Jasper, the real owner, was taken into custody.
On Friday, February 23, at a courier business in Lagos, NDLEA agents from the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, seized at least 540 grams of cocaine that were hidden in canvas shoes and were on their way to the UK. Similarly, the same day at the courier house, a shipment of tramadol 225 mg disguised as women’s headwear headed to the UK was discovered, and a package containing ecstasy stashed within a body lotion container intended for Cyprus was also discovered.
At least 12 young men were detained in various sections of Kano between Monday, February 19 and Friday, February 23, and during that time, various amounts of opioids and other illegal narcotics were found on their person.
Yusuf Abdullahi (20), Usman Muh’d (18), Sadiq Jibrin (20), Ibrahim Lawan (25), Ukasha Usaini (19), Sahabi Lamini (15), Isiyaka Mohd (28), Bashir Ayuba (36), Ahmad Idris (18), Abubakar Sani (29), Bashir Mohd (21), and Udochukwu Ezekiel (35) are a few of the accused.
Accordingly, WADA advocacy talks and the War Against Drug Abuse were stepped up by commands across the nation. These include: WADA advocacy visits to the Emirs of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Idrissa, and Potiskum, Alhaji Umar Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, among others, by the Yobe state command; sensitization lectures for students at Fatahur Rahman Academy, Gumel, Jigawa state; and Boys High School, Nawfia, Anambra state; and Government Senior and Junior College, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, praised the officers and men of the Tincan, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Anambra, Kebbi, Borno, and FCT Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts over the past week. He also commended their counterparts nationwide for stepping up their WADA advocacy lectures to create parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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