NDLEA Secures Conviction of 19 Drug Traffickers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully secured the conviction of 19 drug traffickers, including three kingpins, who were prosecuted and sentenced to various prison terms by the trial court, resulting in a total of 302 years in prison sentences. These convictions followed their arrest and prosecution by the anti-drug agency for trafficking and dealing in illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and opioids.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Femi Babafemi, the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, disclosed this information. He revealed that the convicted individuals were among 414 drug traffickers and dealers prosecuted by the Agency at the Federal High Court across various States, including Benue, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), between July 1st and 31st, 2024.

Some of the Key Convictions according to Mr Babafemi include that of Bolanle Lookman Dauda (50 years old), who was arrested while attempting to cross the Lagos-Badagry expressway to deliver a consignment in Ghana. He was found with 57.5 kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced to 21 years in prison or a fine of N30 million by Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

That of Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi (34 years old), who was arrested at the Idumota Market in Lagos Island with 1,100 ampoules of fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison or a fine of N2 million by Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Christian Anyanwu, was apprehended with 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside custard tins at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to transport them to Brazil. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with four years as mandatory imprisonment without an option of a fine by Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Other notable sentences include Moses Yakubu, who got 25 years in prison, Oluosun Okikiola, 15 years in prison, Chanchan Terpase, 7 years in imprisonment and Beauty Gani who was sentenced to 30 years in prison or a fine of N8 million.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), on his part, commended the officers involved in these operations and the Judiciary for their role in the swift adjudication of these cases. He emphasised that these convictions will significantly strengthen the Agency’s efforts to reduce drug supply in Nigeria, the statement further stated.