NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Nursing Student Attempting to Smuggle 76 Wraps of Cocaine
NDLEA Arrests India-Bound Nursing Student Attempting to Smuggle 76 Wraps of Cocaine
Esther was arrested at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 16, after NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State apprehended 31-year-old Cosmas Okorie. Cosmas was traveling in a commuter bus from Lagos to Kano with the cocaine concealed in an audio speaker. His confession led to Esther's arrest.
In her statement, Esther revealed that she was recruited by a drug cartel in India, which paid for her trip to Nigeria during the Christmas and New Year holidays. To keep her parents unaware, she avoided visiting her home state, Imo, and stayed in a hotel in Enugu before being flown to Kano. She admitted she was promised $5,000 for successfully delivering the drugs.
Nationwide Operations Lead to Multiple Arrests
In a series of coordinated operations, NDLEA operatives seized large quantities of illicit drugs and arrested 33 suspects across various states, including Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Kwara, Kogi, and Taraba.
Lagos Raids
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a hideout in Ojodu-Berger on January 14, arresting 59-year-old Nwokedi Emeka Jonas and recovering 10 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 4.9kg. The drugs were packaged in branded paper bags with street names such as "Dead Man" and "Gelato Cake."
In another operation in Igando New Town, three suspects—Isaac Vincent, 32; Ebube Ikechi, 25; and Christopher Usifoh, 43—were arrested with 1,610kg of skunk, 6kg of tramadol pills, a delivery van, and three vehicles used for drug distribution.
On January 18, Olashile Okoya and Mohammed Ibrahim were arrested at Cadogan Estate, Lekki, with 28kg of Canadian Loud, while 67kg of skunk was seized from Saheed Sulaiman on Lagos Island on January 16.
Other States
- Kano: Usama Adamu and Isah Ibrahim were arrested in Dawakin Tofa LGA with 7.6kg of skunk and 356 bottles of a psychoactive substance called "suck and die." Separately, Usman Isa was caught with 49.8kg of skunk along Zaria Road.
- Kogi and Taraba: Over 38,000 pills of tramadol and other drugs were seized from suspects traveling to Borno, Kano, and Abuja. In Taraba, Samuel Ogbu, 24, was arrested with 25,000 tramadol pills.
- Kwara: Three suspects—Lawali Isiaka, Umoru Isiaka, and Mohammed Kabiru—were arrested in Moro LGA with 65.5kg of cannabis and 390 tablets of Molly.
- FCT Abuja: 14 suspects were arrested across various locations, including Gwarimpa and Area 1 IDP camp, with assorted drugs such as tramadol, methamphetamine, and codeine syrup.
Advocacy and Commendation
Meanwhile, NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, holding sensitization lectures at schools, workplaces, and communities across the country. Advocacy visits were also made to key stakeholders, including Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the agency's operatives for their efforts and urged them to remain vigilant in curbing drug trafficking and abuse across the nation.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
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