NDLEA Arrests Physically-Challenged Man Found With Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of Amadu Garba, a 48-year-old physically challenged man who was found in possession of six bags of cannabis weighing approximately 67 kg at his residence in Yawuri town, Kebbi State.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

He said, “In Jigawa State, the trio of Tukur Yahaya, 55; Idris Haruna, 28; and Tanimu Umar, 29, were nabbed with 90 blocks of cannabis weighing 116.8 kg at Roni junction, Kazaure LGA, on July 19, while on their way to supply the illicit drugs to their customers in Kazaure, Yankwashi, and Katsina.”

He also stated that the agency had confiscated illegal shipments of cocaine and Loud, a synthetic cannabis strain.

He said the items were concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and traditional women’s attire at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The NDLEA stated that this development ensued after it seized the illicit shipments and apprehended suspects associated with them.

“Frantic bids by drug syndicates to smuggle in and out of Nigeria consignments of cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and ladies’ native wears through the Murtala Muhammed International “Airport, and some courier firms in Lagos have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, following the seizure of the illicit shipments and arrests of suspects linked to them,” Babafemi added.

According to the statement, a businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu, was apprehended on July 18, 2024, at his residence in Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos, following the interception of a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms.

He said the illicit substance was concealed within packs of chessboards, Scrabble, checkers, and a poker set imported from Canada on a British Airways flight.

The interception, he stated, occurred at the SAHCO import shed at the Lagos airport during a joint cargo examination with customs officials.

“A search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits, including some drug paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale and a cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki.

“A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house,” the statement said.

Babafemi pointed out that additional investigation resulted in the apprehension of a businesswoman named Eze Ogechi, who said she was shipping the illegal consignment to Pakistan under the direction of her brother, Eze Promise, who resides in that South Asian country.

The spokesman mentioned that a detailed search of the bag uncovered eight parcels of Loud, totalling 2.10 kilograms, hidden within the women’s traditional attire.

The statement partly read, “Also at the Lagos airport, the NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday, July 18, intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses. The suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana, on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE, on Emirates Airline.

“A thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10 kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears. The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai.”