Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos State have arrested a 75-year-old grandma, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said this on Sunday in a statement.
According to him, at the time of her arrest in the Oshodi area of Lagos on Friday, quantities of cannabis and litres of codeine syrup were recovered from her.
“She claimed her son, Segun who is now at large supplied her the illicit substances which she retailed,” Babafemi said.
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Also, a multi-million-naira mansion located at K-5A/2 Road 14, Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate, Lekki area of Lagos State used as clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi, has been forfeited to the Federal Government following his successful prosecution and conviction in court by the NDLEA.
Okenwa was arrested along with his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, on July 30, 2022 and subsequently arraigned on four counts in charge number FHC/L/527C/2022 at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
They both pleaded guilty and were convicted and sentenced to four and three years’ imprisonment each with an option of fine of N4m and N3m respectively in addition to community service for four and three weeks each.
His vehicle marked EKY 496 DJ was equally forfeited to the Federal Government.
To further deny him of enjoying the proceeds of his criminal activity, the NDLEA filed a civil forfeiture charge against the building used as clandestine laboratory at the Federal High Court Lagos which initially granted an interim forfeiture order that elapsed on December 6 before the final forfeiture on December 7, 2023.
Meanwhile in Imo State, operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday intercepted a way-billed consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287kg.
The shipment coming from Lagos was concealed in cellophane condoms, and heading to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while a suspect, Isaac Okoh, 45, has been arrested over the incident.
Also, no fewer than 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kgs were recovered from the ceiling of a dealer, Ibrahim Yahaya, 35, when his house was raided in the Tudun Kofa area of Lafia, Nasarawa State on Friday and he was also arrested.
At the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, over 1.5m pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol were intercepted in a cargo going to South Africa by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Two suspects: Bada Olanrewaju Akorede, and Amusan Olufela Sharafadeen have so far been arrested in connection with the consignment, which consists: 1,050,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and 510,000 tablets of rohypnol.
At the FCT Abuja, operatives on Friday intercepted a consignment of 1,496 bottles of codeine syrup at A.Y.A area of the city while a suspect, Ozioma Enoja, 31, was arrested in a follow-up operation.
Another consignment of 400 bottles of the same opioid coming from Port Harcourt, Rivers State was also seized along Abaji-Abuja highway on Saturday after which a suspect, Bala Ishaq, was arrested during a follow-up operation at Zuba motor park.
While 17 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 195.8kgs stored in a bush at Gbanke village, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo State were recovered by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, anti-narcotic officers in Ogun State intercepted two suspects: Edun Olowokou and Tunde Elijah at Alamutu roundabout area of Abeokuta with bags of same psychoactive substance weighing 279kgs.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers on Tuesday arrested Bukar Ali, 29, and Abacha Alhaji Fantami, 20, with 171kgs of cannabis at Ngamdu, Kaga LGA, while three suspects: Jamilu Haruna, 22; Mohammed Hassan, 23; and Aminu Umar, 50, were nabbed with 57kgs cannabis on Wednesday at Tsafe checkpoint, Zamfara State, when they were on their way to Zurmi, a village known as bandits’ enclave.
At least four suspects: Ezekiel Monday Thompson, 56; Hezekiah Ime, 20; Nsikak Okon Jonah, 39; and Chidi Kalu, 44, were arrested with 121kgs cannabis and 5.1grams of methamphetamine in parts of Cross River State on Monday.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers for the feats recorded and urged them to intensify the offensive against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches.
