By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The continued onslaught against drug trafficking and abuse by the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has continued to record a huge success as its operatives have apprehended no fewer than 10 suspects, including the owner of 157,000 tablets of Diazepam weighing 37.5kg.
The suspects were arrested in connection with tons of assorted illicit substances seized in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kaduna, Sokoto and Anambra States.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that a Baron, identified as Abubakar Isiyaku, owner of the 157,000 tablets of Diazepam weighing 37.5kg.was arrested in Katsina State in a follow up to the arrest of his driver caught with the consignment.
The Director of Media and Advocacy of the anti-narcotic agency, Femi Babafemi made the disclosure in a statement made available on Sunday.
According to Babafemi, a driver, Jamilu Lawal, was arrested on Sunday, July 17, 2022, along Abuja-Kaduna express road, with 157,000 tablets of Diazepam weighing 37.5kg.
A follow up operation same day led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Abubakar Isiyaku, in Katsina State.
Another suspect, Isah Mohammed, was equally arrested same day in Kano during a follow up operation, after the interception of his consignment, 2,500kg rubber solution (solvent) locally called Shalisha in Kaduna.
In Anambra, a suspect Azubuike Ogbanu was arrested with 76 cups of Arizona, 172 sachets of skunk, 82 pinches of methamphetamine, 20 sachets of Loud, and 10 wraps of Colorado when his base, Loren hostel, Ifite, Awka, was raided by operatives on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
Abuja, no fewer than four persons were arrested over 345.4kg cannabis seizures in the FCT. While Mohammed Auwal, 37; Godspower John, 34, and Chukwuma Odeh, 35, were arrested in Jabi Park over a 77.7kg drug consignment on Monday 18th July, Isah Yusuf, 25, who hails from Kaura Namoda LGA, Zamfara State, was nabbed with 267.7kg cannabis when operatives raided DeiDei area of the FCT on Saturday 23rd July.
In Sokoto, operatives on stop and search operation along Gusau-Sokoto road arrested one Tochukwu Joseph Oranusi with 20,100 tabs of Rohypnol inside a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra state. Bottles of Codeine Syrup weighing 15.2 litres and 400grams of Rohypnol tabs whose owner, Buhari Sambo was later arrested, were also recovered from the vehicle”, the statement read in part.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men of the Commands for the arrests, seizures and their tenacity.
He urged them and their colleagues across the country to remain steadfast in pursuit of the Agency’s goal of ridding all parts of Nigeria of illicit substances.
