Officers of the Special Operation Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a major drug cartel led by 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi and his 50-year-old sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi.
The bust resulted in the seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine worth over N4.1 billion in street value from their hideout in Aba, Abia State.
The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the operation, stating, “The special operation conducted on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th June 2024 at 3B, Boundary Avenue, Aba, and a residence along Ohia road, Ohia, Abia State, followed months of intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest of the ring leaders and the combined seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from them.”
Significant Seizures and Arrests Across Nigeria
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives uncovered a large warehouse stocked with codeine-based syrup at the Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri. During an intelligence-led raid, four individuals connected to the importation and distribution of the opioids were arrested.
The seized items included 82,000 bottles of codeine syrup, a Toyota Tacuma truck, and two buses used for distribution. The suspects arrested were Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke (38), Emeka Emmanuel (48), Bornaventure Ugochukwu (59), and Martin Dike (56).
Further operations in Lagos led to the interception of Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and 3.9 litres of codeine syrup at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area.
Widespread Operations and Recoveries
In Kano, Yasir Rabi’u (23) and Abubakar Ado (30) were arrested with 230,600 pills of tramadol at Gadar Tamburawa. Hassan Abdullahi Ali (25) was also nabbed with 150 bottles of codeine syrup at Kofar Nassarawa.
Ogun State operatives seized 390kg of cannabis and arrested Muhammad Sani, Nura Mohammad, and Samaila Rabe during an early morning raid at Ibese.
A skuchies-making factory in Shagamu was also dismantled, resulting in seven arrests and the recovery of 387 litres of skuchies, 70 litres of industrial codeine, 25kg of cannabis, and various production equipment.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers destroyed 10,534.78 kilograms of cannabis on 4.213912 hectares of farmland in Uhen forest. Four suspects were arrested: Frank Ishoku (38), Clifford Ossai (49), Vanger Timothy (30), and John Peter Oluwaseyi (30).
Similar actions in Ekiti led to the destruction of 18,425kg of cannabis on 7.37 hectares of farmland in Ise Ekiti.
Nationwide Drug Busts Continue
In Abuja, two suspects, Muhammad Abba (33) and Samson Ehizogie (42), were arrested with 3,550 bottles of “Akuskura,” a new mixture of psychotropic substances, during raids in Garki Area 10 and Dutse Suokale.
In Benue, Emmanuel Ogechi (24) was apprehended with 11,200 pills of tramadol along Otukpo-Enugu road, while in Anambra, Anayo Onwe (40) was caught with 62.4kg of cannabis sativa at Nteje. A separate seizure of 1kg of methamphetamine was made in Oraifite.
Further arrests included Muhammed Musa (24) with 33kg of cannabis in Kwara and Shokuro Adeola (59) with 11.5kg of cannabis along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Oyo.
War Against Drug Abuse Continues
The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) continues with sensitization activities across the nation. These include lectures and engagements with schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, aiming to raise awareness and combat drug abuse.
Commendations and Encouragement
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men involved in the successful operations. He emphasized the importance of their work and encouraged them to maintain their efforts in reducing drug supply and demand.
“These operational successes are well appreciated. I urge all officers to continue intensifying their efforts in our collective fight against drug abuse and trafficking,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA remains steadfast in its mission to eradicate drug-related crimes and ensure a drug-free Nigeria.
