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NDLEA smash Nigerian drug cartels, recover multibillion hard drugs

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National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) agents

The Nigerian drug agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said it smashed two drug cartels and recovered cocaine and fentanyl consignments worth multibillion Naira.

NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, made the assertion on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in a statement issued in Abuja and seen by Diaspora Digital Media (DDM).

The agency also said it arrested a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, and four others.

It said it also intercepted a “Loud” shipment concealed in imported vehicle compartments.

Loud, the agency explained, is a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Mr. Babafemi stated: “A cocaine trafficking cartel headed by a couple, Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda has been smashed in Lagos and Ogun states by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, with multi-billion-naira worth of the illicit drug recovered in two major operations following the arrest of the kingpin and his queen in one of the intelligence-led raids.”

How it all started

The duo of Bolanle Lookman and Olayinka Toheebat were reportedly arrested May 25 by NDLEA special operatives.

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The unit was supported by the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States, Babafemi disclosed.

They were nabbed at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry expressway, while attempting to cross land border to deliver the consignment to Ghana.

“At the point of their arrest, 42 blocks of the Class A drug weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on them.

“A swift follow up operation in their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, led to the recovery of additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of the cocaine seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms,” Babafemi stated further.

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“Lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl”

In another operation, NDLEA said no fewer than 1,100 ampoules of lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl, weighing 6.48kg were recovered from 34-year-old Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi.

Ikeh was identified as a member of a drug trafficking syndicate operating at the popular Idumota market, Lagos.

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The NDLEA spokesman noted that no less than 790 ampoules of the dangerous opioid weighing 5.273kg were equally seized from one Mr. Chieze Ogechukwu Benjamin.

48-year-old Mr. Chieze is alleged to be another member of the fentanyl syndicate.

He was also arrested at Idumota market.

According to sources, Fentanyl is a lethal synthetic opioid and hundred times more potent than heroin.

It is believed to be currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths, contributing majorly to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.

NDLEA nabs SUV and traffickers

Two other persons, Olayiwola Aremu Kazeem, 37, and Ogunfowora Taofik Ajibola, 35, were also arrested on similar grounds.

Olayiwola and Ogunfowora were arrested at Lagos Island in a separate raid by NDLEA operatives.

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432 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from the two.

The agency further said its operatives intercepted 15 parcels of Loud weighing 7.5 kg at the Tin Can Port in Lagos.

The dangerous drugs were intercepted by NDLEA on Saturday May 25.

They were concealed in the doors and body crevices of a Toyota Highlander SUV in a container marked MSMU 7294325.

A video clip of the operation can be watched here and here.

The container was declared as containing three units of used vehicles including the Toyota Highlander.

It originated from Toronto and was shipped to Nigeria via Montreal, Canada.

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Babafemi stated: “Swift follow up operation led to the arrest of two suspects, Sunday Sodade and Oriyomi Adesina.

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“[They] were to receive the vehicle and the drug consignment.

“A bribe of six million Naira offered NDLEA officers by the sender of the container based in Canada through his agent has also been registered as exhibit for the prosecution of the case.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) reacted positively to the arrest of the drug kingpins and the seizure of the dangerous illicit drugs.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd)

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.)

Gen Marwa commended officials of the special unit for resilience in targeting and arresting drug cartels and barons.

He equally praised the result-oriented collaboration between NDLEA and its local and international partners.

Marwa urged operatives and institutions to remain resolute in their offensive action against drug underworld.

About NDLEA

NDLEA is a federal law enforcement agency established by Decree No. 48 of 29th December 1989.

The decree was in response to the rising trend in the demand for and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

These activities have adversely affected the international image of Nigerians and Nigeria in the 1980s.

Since then, the trafficking of illicit substances has become an organised criminal activity.

Such activity undermines the security and development of the country and therefore demands urgent attention and priority from the government.

NDLEA is in charge of drug policy and control in Nigeria.

The Agency has the mandate to curtail illicit production, importation, exportation, sale and trafficking of psychoactive substances.

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Employees of NDLEA carry out interdiction and destruction of narcotic drugs and other illicit substances.

They also engage in preventive drug abuse activities such as advocacy and counselling, and rehabilitation of drug users.

Thousands of expert narcotic operatives and well-trained support staff of NDLEA work across Nigeria to fulfill the mandate of the Agency.

These agents have a visible presence at international airports, seaports, border crossing and major highways.

They are committed to keeping society safe from the dangers of illicit substances and their purveyors.

NDLEA operatives are actively engaged in the tracking, arrest and prosecution of traffickers of dangerous substances under the various relevant drug laws of Nigeria.


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