NDLEA Arrests Two Drug Kingpins, Seizes Heroin, Tramadol, and Cannabis in Nationwide Operations
NDLEA Arrests Two Drug Kingpins, Seizes Heroin, Tramadol, and Cannabis in Nationwide Operations
Major Arrests at Lagos and Port Harcourt Airports
One of the traffickers, 30-year-old Onyekwonike Elochuckwu Sylvanus, also known as Kargbo Mohamed Foday, was apprehended at Port Harcourt airport on Sunday, February 2, 2025. He was traveling on a Sierra Leonean passport via Qatar Airways from Doha through Abuja. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs, and under observation, he excreted 62 wraps of heroin weighing 1.348 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that Sylvanus uses dual identities—one Nigerian and one Sierra Leonean—to facilitate his drug trafficking activities across Thailand, Pakistan, Iran, and West Africa. He reportedly turned to drug trafficking in 2017 after his clothing and shoe business failed.
Similarly, James Herbert Chinoso, 48, was arrested at Lagos airport on Saturday, February 1, upon his return from Madagascar via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A body scan confirmed he had ingested drugs, leading to his placement under observation. He later excreted 63 wraps of heroin weighing 909 grams. Chinoso admitted to entering the illicit trade after his phone accessories business in Liberia collapsed.
Seizures in Lagos, Kano, and Kogi
NDLEA operatives also intercepted multiple drug consignments across the country:
-
Lagos: Two parcels containing 2.82kg of "Loud," a synthetic strain of cannabis from the United States, were seized at a courier firm on February 6. Another operation at a separate logistics company led to the interception of 80 ampoules of pentazocine injection (225 grams) concealed in cartons destined for Canada.
-
Kano: On February 3, two suspects, Usaini Salisu and Yahaya Mu’azu, both 23, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria Road with 15,396 pills of tramadol hidden inside a gas cylinder. On the same day, 35-year-old Chioma Okeke was caught with 27 blocks of skunk (15kg) in Sabon Gari.
-
Kogi: On February 8, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Kabba-Obajana highway intercepted a consignment of 12,800 tramadol pills heading to Shuwarin, Jigawa State. A suspect, Salisu Basiru, 33, was arrested. Another operation at the same checkpoint led to the seizure of 65 parcels of Colorado, a potent synthetic cannabis strain weighing 1.6kg, from suspect Rufai Hassan, 32.
NDLEA’s Ongoing War Against Drug Abuse
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA has intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) awareness campaign. Recent sensitization programs were held at various institutions, including Saint Secondary School, Abakaliki (Ebonyi), Taangayar Malam Abubakar Bichi Almajiri School (Kano), Federal Government Girls College (Calabar), College of Nursing and Science (Birnin Kebbi), and Meiran Community Junior Secondary School (Lagos).
NDLEA Chairman Commends Officers
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, commended the agency’s officers for their relentless efforts in tackling drug trafficking. He emphasized NDLEA’s commitment to both supply reduction and demand reduction strategies in the fight against drug abuse in Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, February 9, 2025
No comments