NDLEA arrests 3 trans-border traffickers with 48,000 Tramadol tabs in Adamawa

 

As Marwa tasks new officers on drug war

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three suspected trans-border drug traffickers with 48,000 tablets of 225mg Tramadol in Mubi, Adamawa.

 

This is contained in a statement by the Director Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

 

Babafemi said the suspects were apprehended while trying to smuggle the drugs into Cameroon Republic, adding that the agency also intercepted over 1,500 kilogrammes of imported Loud and other illicit substances in raids across Lagos and Edo States.

 

He said the suspects: Mohammed Hussaini, 32; Adamu Bella, 18, and Mohammed Umar, 18, were arrested at Tsamiya Junction, Madanya Road, Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa.

 

The spokesman said the suspects were arrested on Friday Jan. 28 with the exhibits concealed in the packets of another drug.

 

“When interviewed, they claimed the drugs were being taken to Bagira town along Nigeria-Cameroon border to be delivered to some Cameroonians for onward delivery to Maroua in Cameroon.

 

“This comes on the heels of a similar operation at Alaba Rago area of Lagos where operatives of the state command of the agency intercepted 1,200 parcels of imported Loud.

 

“A strong variant of cannabis suspected to have been smuggled into the state from a neighbouring country with a total weight of 1,229 kilogrammes,” he said.

 

In another raid on Wednesday,January 26, at Suru Alaba, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Lagos, operatives arrested one Ibrahim Musa, 25, with 18,530 tablets of Tramadol, Rohynol, Diazepam, Exol-5, and 138 bottles of Codeine.

 

Babafemi said that operatives at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) export shed of the Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, during their routine cargo search intercepted a consignment of 22 international passports.

 

The passports, he said, comprised of six different countries concealed in a bag of granulated grain (Gari) among other food items at the MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

 

“Nine of the passports were three each of the UK, France and Portugal, while the rest Nigeria – 8; Ghana – 4 and Cameroon – 1.

 

“Also at the airport, operatives equally recovered 12 parcels of cannabis weighing 4.95kg concealed in a carton of Golden Morn packaged for export through the SAHCO export shed.

 

“In Plateau; a team of NDLEA officers on Friday Jan. 28, arrested two suspects Emeka Ezenwa, 37, and Julius Akingbe, 45, for being in possession of 126.5 grammes of methamphetamine concealed inside a DVD player coming from Lagos.

 

‘While a raid in Kampani Zera – Wase LGA of the state on Friday led to the arrest of Fatima Sadiq, 20, who was caught with 21.3kg cannabis,” he said.

 

Babafemi said that a similar raid on Friday of a notorious drug joint, Bakin Kogi in Ringim, Jigawa led to the recovery of different quantities of Cannabis, Diazepam, Exol-5 and some new psychoactive substances.

 

He said that the drugs were with a total weight of 8.680kg as well as weapons such as knives, cutlasses, sticks, catapults and charms.

 

“In Edo state, operatives recovered 19 bags of cannabis weighing 144.10kg stored in the bush along Uromi Road, Esan North-East LGA ready to be transported to other parts of the country,

 

“While eight bags of the same substance weighing 111kg were recovered from a bush at Iruekpen, Esan-West LGA,” he said.

 

Babafemi quoted the Chairman of the Agency, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa as commending officers and men of Lagos, MMIA, Adamawa, Plateau and Edo commands of the agency for their tenacity and vigilance.

 

Marwa charged them along with their colleagues across the country not to relent make Nigeria drug free country.

However, The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has tasked newly trained officers to be dedicated to the war against drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

 

Marwa gave the warning on Saturday during the passing out parade of 2,000 Narcotic Assistants at the NDLEA Academy, Jos, Plateau.

 

In a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi in Abuja, Marwa charged the newly trained personnel to beware of the temptation of inducement in the line of their work.

 

According to Marwa, it is pertinent that I repeat at this occasion the advice I have given those who went ahead of you: Beware of the lure of filthy lucre.

 

“As you go about your duty, there will be inducement with money and calculated efforts to derail you from doing your duty by drug traffickers, fixers and barons.

 

“Never compromise! Do not forget that society needs protection from these bad actors, and any failure in your duty can directly or indirectly jeopardise society including your family.

 

“Hence, every encounter with the illicit drug underworld should be a moment of strength and not a moment of weakness,” he said.

 

Marwa reminded the new officers of the series of steps taken in the past 12 months to reposition the Agency for effectiveness, assuring that they were coming on board at the right time.

 

He said: “Let me assure you that you are coming into the Agency at a very good time. You are coming in at a time when the job has become exciting, challenging and gratifying as well.

 

“We are presently in an era when we have launched an Offensive Action to put traffickers and barons on the defensive. We have equally launched War Against Drug Abuse campaign to win over society to our side as our collaborators in the effort to curb illicit drug abuse.

 

“We have undertaken a raft of reforms in the past 12 months so much so the Agency has regained a vibrancy that gives our officers and men a pride of place among their peers.

 

“I must also point out that you are a lucky generation of narcotic officers and men because your employment is coming at a time you will be beneficiaries.”

 

This, he said, were an enhanced welfare package that includes life insurance and barracks, for which a green light had been received for its construction starting from this year.

 

The NDLEA boss, who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser, retired Col. Yakubu Bako, also told the graduands that the Agency and Nigeria expected much from them.

 

“As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected. NDLEA has raised its standard. The bars of work ethics, discipline and performance have been raised to make our work dynamics very competitive.

 

“To this extent, you are coming in at a time the Agency has become a place for achievers and not laggards.

 

“So, you must know that NDLEA is not a place for indolence. We are a goal-oriented organisation and every officer is to contribute his share to the attainment of organisational goals.

 

“You can all revel in the fact that we reward performance. With the change process that has taken place since January 2021, you can rest assured that NDLEA is a good place to be, now or in the future and you can look forward to a fulfilling career,” he stated.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the set of 2,000 is the last batch of 5,000 newly recruited officers and men to be trained at the Academy since last year.