The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former two-term councillor in Lagos State and recovered large consignments of illicit drugs across multiple locations in the past week, while also intercepting materials that could be used to assemble improvised explosive devices.
Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, stated in a press release issued on Sunday, that operatives arrested Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a 45-year-old former councillor representing the Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area and current legislative aide.
He added that the arrest occurred on Monday, March 2, at the suspect’s residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, where a search recovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent cannabis strain, from one of the rooms. Babafemi noted that the suspect admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property during questioning.
Babafemi further stated that on Tuesday, March 3, in the Federal Capital Territory, officers intercepted 32-year-old businessman Emeka Hyginus Okwor in a vehicle from Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, to Zuba, Abuja.
He added that 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg were discovered concealed inside baby diapers in the suspect’s luggage, and the suspect confessed the consignment was headed to his provision store in Guduwa village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
He stated that on the same day along the Kabba/Obajana highway in Kogi State, operatives intercepted Cameroonian national Mey Ali Muhamat, 36, from Maroua, with 1.550 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, hidden in a standing fan carton while travelling by commercial bus from Lagos toward Cameroon via Lokoja, Kano, and Maiduguri.
Babafemi said that on Wednesday, March 4, along the Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger State, a commercial bus from Ibadan was stopped, leading to the recovery of 500 IED components concealed in a white sack. He stated that a follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the recipient, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, at Pelegi in Mashegu Local Government Area.
He disclosed that in Yola, Adamawa State, on the same day, operatives recovered 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grams of methamphetamine from the false bottom of a truck marked ENU 645XX carrying 2,000 cartons of local drinks.
Babafemi added that in Kano on March 3, 20-year-old Muhammed Ali was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 tramadol pills, while in Ogun State a raid in Ogere netted Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa with 46 kilograms of skunk.
Babafemi said that in Delta State on March 7, Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were arrested in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, 4,268 tramadol pills, and swinol.
He revealed that in Edo State, farm operations in Egbisi forest, Uhumwonde Local Government Area, led to the arrest of Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, with the destruction of 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk on two farms, while Alaba Adeboye, 47, was apprehended at Ikhin town, Owan East Local Government Area, with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.
