Just In: NDLEA Smashes Cocaine-Syndicate, Arrests Osun-Monarch, Corps-Member For Drug Trafficking

Just In: NDLEA Smashes Cocaine-Syndicate, Arrests Osun-Monarch, Corps-Member For Drug Trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking. Operatives raided the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate allegedly headed by a couple, Agbakoba John Mmadu and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, along with their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane. Large consignments of cocaine meant for export and local distribution were recovered during the operation.

This operation, carried out by a special unit of the Agency, followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate known for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within and outside Nigeria. The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago Palace Way, Okota. His wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who also served as their stash keeper, were apprehended at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Babafemi detailed that seven parcels of cocaine weighing 7.652 kilograms were recovered from Mmadu at Ago Palace Way. Additionally, 122 compressed pellets of cocaine, weighing 2.42 kg, were seized from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate. The total seizure amounted to 10.1 kilograms, valued at over N2.1 billion.

In another development, NDLEA operatives in Benue State intercepted 350 grams of cocaine at a checkpoint along Enugu Road, Otukpo, on Thursday, July 4. The drug was concealed in an MP3 speaker sent as a waybill parcel. A swift follow-up operation at Flight Motor Park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.

Babafemi also revealed that on Wednesday, July 3, officers on a stop-and-search operation along Ngurore-Yola Road in Adamawa State arrested a Chadian, Yves Ahmat Gali, in a commercial bus from Kano to Yola. He was found with a loudspeaker containing 20 compressed blocks and nine plastic containers of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 5.200 kg.

In Kano, a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, was arrested at the Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area, with 1.250 kg of Loud. In Osun State, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was arrested on Friday, July 5, with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5 kg.

Furthermore, two suspects, Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were arrested during a raid in Ikota Forest, Ifedore LGA, Ondo State, where 42,500 kg of cannabis was destroyed on 17 hectares of farmland. An additional 73.5 kg of cannabis was recovered for prosecution.

In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, in a vehicle along Abaji-Gwagwalada Road on Saturday, July 6. They were found with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 pills of tramadol, 50,000 pills of diazepam, and 59 pills of rohypnol. The suspects claimed they were transporting the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra State.

Reacting to the developments, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Osun, Benue, Ondo, Kano, and FCT Commands for their efforts. He praised their balance of drug supply reduction and WADA sensitization activities, urging them to maintain the momentum.

Published on July 7, 2024, by Destiny.jnr