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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) made a significant arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. On October 3, a 67-year-old drug trafficker named Clement Chukwuemeka was apprehended for ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine. Shockingly, Mr. Chukwuemeka confessed that he had resorted to this criminal act to gather enough funds to marry a new wife and start over after wasting 30 years of his life in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Thailand.

According to Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, the arrest took place during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa. Mr. Chukwuemeka underwent a body scan, which revealed numerous pellets lodged in his stomach. Such an unusual discovery led to his subsequent detention.

“While under observation, he excreted 100 wraps of cocaine, with a total weight of 2.195kg, in four separate instances,” Mr. Babafemi stated. The arrested trafficker shared in his statement that he had spent three decades in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Thailand while being married. Tragically, he lost his wife without having any children. Consequently, he embarked on drug trafficking as a means to collect enough money to marry again and rebuild his life.

Further, on the same day, October 3, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 45-year-old woman named Bilkisu Bello at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano. She was preparing to board a flight to Saudi Arabia. Ms. Bello admitted to the operatives that she had swallowed pellets of cocaine. She revealed that the illicit substance was stored in a house located in the Farawa area of Kano. Accompanied by NDLEA officers, she led them to the mentioned house where they discovered 52 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 767 grams.

In another bold operation, NDLEA operatives joined forces with the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Corps, and Amotekun personnel to storm James Town, Ogunmakin in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state. This operation, conducted on October 3, resulted in the detection and destruction of a staggering 10.38 tonnes of Indian hemp cultivated across an area of more than 4.152 hectares.

On their return from this successful operation, the team encountered a truck transporting a 40ft container loaded with logs of wood. Intrigued by their instincts, the operatives searched the container and made an astonishing discovery—two bags of Indian hemp weighing 20kg. Consequently, Ahmed Yusuf, Olaniyi Babatunde, Adedeji Babatunde, Richard John, Osolale Olamilekan, and Abdulazeez Saied, who were present in the truck, were promptly arrested.

Furthermore, on October 1, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on Obi Camp in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo state. Within an old, dilapidated mud house situated in the camp, they discovered thirty sacks of skunk weighing 300kg, concealed amidst charcoal.

Additionally, on October 6, NDLEA identified and destroyed two Indian hemp farms spanning 1.2 hectares in the Igbanke Forest of Orhiomwon Local Government Area, Edo state. As a result, four suspects, Tersoo Zaria (28), Ifeanyi Osai (53), Moses David (19), and Daniel Gabriel (20), were apprehended in connection with the illicit farms.

Notably, on October 6, a suspect named Auwal Bindow was arrested on Bauchi-Gombe Road while carrying 50,000 capsules of tramadol. This particular arrest underscores the ongoing mission of NDLEA to curb the abuse and distribution of both hard and prescription drugs.

Finally, on October 4, NDLEA operatives captured Anuoluwapo Iyanu (32) on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Anuoluwapo was found in possession of 52 blocks of compressed Indian hemp shaped like pawpaw, weighing 30kg.

It is evident that the NDLEA’s relentless efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse continue to yield impressive results. By intercepting smugglers, destroying illicit farms, and seizing contraband, the agency takes a significant step toward preserving the security and well-being of Nigerians. The release of this information serves as a reminder that drug traffickers will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

NAN