NDLEA Arrests Three Disabled Persons Over Alleged Drug Trafficking

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three persons living with disabilities for alleged involvement in drug trafficking operations during separate raids conducted in Anambra and Kwara states.

The agency also uncovered a major cannabis stash valued at over N5.8 billion in Lagos and dismantled a skuchies production centre operating within the state.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi.

According to the statement, one of the suspects, 60-year-old Romanus Nwabara, was arrested on May 6 after operatives traced him to Akpaka Forest in Onitsha, Anambra State, where he was allegedly found with 250 grams of skunk packaged in retail sachets.

The agency said another suspect, Amos Kenneth, 25, was apprehended during a raid in Ogbunike area of Anambra State.

“In a different raid at Ogbunike area of the state, NDLEA officers on Thursday, May 7, arrested another PWD, Amos Kenneth, 25, with 160.3 grams of Tramadol (225mg and 100mg); 80 pills of Diazepam; 38.23 grams of Exol-5; and 176.93 grams of skunk,” the statement read.

NDLEA further disclosed that operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu in Kwara State intercepted a commercial vehicle on May 8, leading to the arrest of another physically challenged suspect identified as Usman Salisu.

According to the agency, Salisu was allegedly caught with 6.3 kilograms of skunk hidden inside a brown school bag during a search of the vehicle.

In Lagos, operatives attached to the NDLEA Special Operations Unit raided a Lekki mansion allegedly being used as a drug stash house.

During the operation, officers reportedly recovered 4,000 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 2,326 kilograms with an estimated street value exceeding ₦5.8 billion.

The agency said two Mercedes-Benz buses and branded packaging sachets allegedly used for distributing illicit substances were also recovered from the building located on African Lane, Lekki Phase 1.

Elsewhere, NDLEA operatives arrested Emmanuel Osita Okeke in Nyanya, Karu area of Nasarawa State with 129 kilograms of skunk.

The agency also said officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway in Kogi State intercepted a commuter bus travelling to Abuja and recovered 76 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 766 kilograms.

Three suspects identified as Mathew Omohove, Ebuka Desmond and Babangida Musa were arrested in connection with the seizure.

The statement further revealed that NDLEA operatives raided a makeshift skuchies production factory in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos on May 6.

Two suspects, Bose Jamiu and Gbenga Gege, were arrested during the operation.

“They were caught in the act of cooking cannabis and mixing same with other illicit substances. A total of 270 litres of already produced skuchies and 106 grams of Tramadol (225mg) were recovered from them,” Babafemi said.

The agency added that its commands across the country sustained sensitisation campaigns under the War Against Drug Abuse initiative in schools, workplaces, religious centres and communities.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to maintain the agency’s offensive against drug trafficking and abuse across the country.