The war against drug trafficking may not be ending soon across the country.
This is because, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the bid to control the growing rate of drug trafficking in the country, have again, intercepted different brands of drug in some states and arrested offenders.
In Rivers state, Mario Okiwelu, a final year student of Fine Arts and Design, from the University of Port Harcourt, was arrested for importing five variants of liquid cannabis weighing 49.6 grammes.
Suspected Mario Okiwelu, was arrested alongside his accomplice, Precious Awuse on Monday, September 27, 2021 around NIPOST area, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Similarly, Hayatu Galadima, a fake soldier, and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu, were also arrested by NDLEA officials while allegedly conveying drugs, ammunition, and communication gadgets to bandits in Kaduna.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the two suspects were arrested by the Agency’s patrol team along Gwagwalada expressway, in Abuja on Friday 30th September, 2021.
Items reportedly recovered from them include: “21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (Walkie talkie); four army coloured head masks; wallet containing army ID card.
“Also, 1 USD, 2 FCMB, 1 First Bank, 1 Ecobank, 1 UBA, 1 Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis sativa; tablets of tramadol; three MTN, two 9mobile and one airtel sim cards packs; one iPhone 12 pro; one Samsung A31; and one Nokia phones; seven NA pass letters; five handbags and one bagco bag containing personal belongings, as well as a gallon of palm oil.”
Hayatu Galadima however, claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan; and confessed that the items are on their way to Kaduna and Kano.
Spokesman Babafemi, revealed that, from preliminary investigations, the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North West and were possibly moving the items to bandits in their hideouts.
Mr. Babafemi also said, “the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd.) has directed the FCT Command of the Agency, which made the arrest to transfer the suspects to authorities of the Nigerian Army, and another intelligence agency, which had earlier placed the two men on its watch list for further investigation.”
Other suspects arrested include:
Peter Prosper Onome, a 22-year-old Isoko indigene, of Delta State, for trafficking different varieties of drugs too numerous to mention; one Justin Clement, from Adamawa State, but was arrested in Lekki area of Lagos state; and a widow, Aliya Idris allegedly in possession of 30 bottles of cough syrup with codeine and other substances. She was said to have been arrested in the house of a wanted drug dealer, Shamsu Boda at Joji road, Tudun Wada, in Zaria.
Babafemi likewise confirmed that, raids in the Lagos metropolis yielded good results as many drug variants were seized.
Buba Marwa, NDLEA boss, thanked the operatives for their efforts and encouraged them not to relent in the fight against drug trafficking and traffickers.