NDLEA Intercepts 14.5 tons of Illicit Drugs Linked to Wanted Baron

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted large consignments of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana loaded in two trucks and a J5 bus with a total weight of 14,524.8 kilogrammes.

A statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, said the three vehicles conveying jumbo bags of the psychoactive substance were trailed and intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos State in the early hours of January 28, 2024.

Babafemi added that in the process of blocking the vehicles, two of the drivers jumped off in motion while the third driver, 66-year-old Nasiru Ojomu, who works with wanted Akala, a Mushin-based drug baron, Suleiman Jimoh (alias Olowo Idi Ogede, also known as Temo), was arrested.

The spokesman said in the last three years, NDLEA operatives have seized several shipments of same psychoactive substance worth billions of naira linked to Temo, the wanted Akala-based drug lord, who has since gone into hiding while the agency has continued manhunt for him.

Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives on routine patrol around a warehouse sealed at Church street, Idumota, Lagos Island, by the agency over an ongoing investigation last Thursday arrested three suspects-Joseph Joshua, Muhammed Adamu, and Balarabe Musa-who burgled the store and loaded 546,700 pills of tramadol and other opioids into a waiting yellow bus marked BDG 447 XD and an unregistered Suzuki minibus.

He also disclosed that a male deaf-and-dumb suspect dealing in illicit substances was arrested at Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State. He said at the time of his arrest, 150 grams of cannabis were recovered from him while selling the psychoactive substance. Another suspect, Ibrahim Sani, 56, was also arrested in possession of 51 kilogrammes of same substance at Tirkaniya area of the state.

According to him, “Operatives in Abuja last Wednesday arrested Emmanuel Paul with 43.5 kilogrammes cannabis concealed in used shoes loaded in a trailer coming from Ogbese, Ondo State, to be delivered at Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“In Katsina State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Dutsinma – Katsina road last Friday apprehended a suspect, Murtala Isah, 35, with a total of 37,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids recovered from him.

“In Kogi State, operatives last Wednesday destroyed 833.32 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa on a two acre of farmland at Iluke community, Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area while the owner, Samuel Atonila, 49, was equally arrested.

“On the same day, operatives in Nasarawa State arrested three suspects, Muhammed Musa, Bilyaminu Musa, and Sadiya Ya’u, with same psychoactive substance weighing 24.4 kilogrammes at Uke, Karu LGA of the state, while not less than 258 kilogrammes of same substance were recovered from a bush store around Ikare bypass, Owo, Ondo State.”