LAGOS JUNE 15TH (NEWSRNAGERS)-A 41-YEAR-OLD Sao Paulo Brazil-based businessman, Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing shirts and towels starched with 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine from the South American country into Nigeria.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement.
According to the statement, Abugu was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aboard an Ethiopian Airways flight last Thursday.
Babafemi said a search of his luggage led to the recovery of 14 towels and shirts, soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and well ironed.
The agency’s spokesman said the suspect claimed he had lived for over 14 years in Brazil where he runs an African restaurant.
The suspect added that he was in Nigeria to see his wife and buy food stuff in bulk for his restaurant.
The NDLEA also said a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, and a 28-year-old man Abubakar Usman, both persons living with disability have been taken into NDLEA custody in Abia and Rivers states, following their involvement in illicit drug trade.
Babafemi said while Chidimma was nabbed with 1.8kg skunk by Umuosu vigilante group in Umuna Autonomous community, Isialangwa North Local Government Area, Abia State and handed over to NDLEA last Wednesday, Abubakar was arrested at Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Rivers State with 400 grams of skunk, five grammes of methamphetamine, 100 grams of tramadol, five grams of swinol and 18 grammes of diazepam during a raid by NDLEA officers on Tuesday, last week.
“In Delta, NDLEA operatives on Monday, June 8 arrested a suspect Onya Jude, 36, in possession of five gas cylinders used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at Ogwashi Uku, Aniocha South. This was followed by the arrest of two notorious dealers: 40-year-old Jamilu Idris (a.k.a Jama) and 33-year-old Aminu Abdullahi (a.k.a Momo) at Kasuwan Katako area of Gombe, Gombe State. They were caught with three big blocks of skunk that weighed 2.738kg at the time of their arrest by NDLEA operatives.
“While Ngozi Gaius, 39, was nabbed on Zaria/Kano Road, Kano State on Friday, June 12 conveying 6,000 pills of tramadol 225mg, two suspects: Nasiru Hamza, 47; and Muhammad Sani, 38, were intercepted by NDLEA operatives on patrol on Bode Saadu Road, Kwara State conveying 600 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 304kg in a black Toyota jeep with special registration number: P JHR 783 on June 9.
“In Taraba, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on June 13 raided the warehouse of a notorious dealer Ali Adamu, 45, at Maihula village, Bali Local Government Area where 63 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,121.5 kilogrammes, were recovered.
‘‘Same day, operatives on patrol on Gwagwalada Expressway, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrested Emmanuel Nnadi, 46, and seized from him assorted illicit substances, including: 30,400 pills of tramadol 225mg and 100mg; 750 pills of pregabline 300mg; 200 pills of molly; and 592 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
“A large consignment of Ghana Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,102 kilogrammes, was recovered around Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos on Saturday 13th June.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) hailed the officers for their efforts in the war against illicit drug reduction, urging them not to rest in their oars.
The Nation
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