Student Caught at Lagos Airport With 10.255kg of Drugs Hidden in Garri

 Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested a student and four other suspected drug traffickers with 10.255 kilogrammes of narcotics at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos.

Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Ahmadu Garba said that the suspects were apprehended for their involvement in smuggling drug hidden in garri adding that two of the drug suspects were coming from Brazil with cocaine while three others were going to South Africa, Dubai and Pakistan when they were arrested.

Mr. Garba further gave the names of those apprehended as:

“26 year old student Okonkwo Daniel Anagor, was caught with 2.810kgs of Tramadol on his way to Dubai, Lawal Monsuru Ademola, 33 year old trader was arrested with 3.310kgs of methamphetamine on his way to South Africa while Ogbonna Donatus Chigozie was caught attempting to smuggle 610 grammes of cocaine to Pakistan. 

Two other suspects, Okoro Chibueze Augustine and Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi were caught with 2.575kgs and 950 grammes of cocaine from Brazil”.

Narrating his ordeal, one of the suspects, Mr. Okonkwo David Anagor who was to board Rwand Air flight to Dubai told anti-graft investigators that he wanted to spend some time after his secondary school and further his education in Dubai.

According to him:

 “I was travelling to Dubai to spend holiday and further my studies but they called me from Dubai that somebody will give me garri in Lagos.

When I got to Lagos, the person called me and gave me the bag of garri. This is my first time of travelling outside the country. At the airport, the garri was searched and 445 sachets of Tramadol were found inside the bag. That was how I was arrested”.

Also, Mr. Lawal Monsuru Ademola, a trader selling clothes at Marina Lagos who holds a Diploma in Computer Installations and Repairs at the Lagos State Polytechnic was caught on his way to South Africa with 3.310kgs of crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine that was neatly packed in 26 parcels in a false bottom of his luggage.

Similarly, Ogbonna Donatus Chigozie was nabbed with 610 grammes of cocaine while attempting to board an Emirate flight to Pakistan. Okoro Chibueze Augustine who was expecting N2.5 million described his arrest as a bad luck.

In his words:

 “I have lived in Brazil for a year and six months. I have suffered trying to make ends meet in Brazil. I got involved in drug trafficking so as to start a legitimate business. I expected to have made N2.5 million from the deal. 

Unfortunately, my partner who would have collected the drug in Dubai failed to show up so I had to come to Nigeria with the drug. That was not the original plan. This is a bad luck and I feel so sad”.

He is single and hails from Imo State.

Okpue Ernest Ifeanyi who had lived in Brazil for a year said that he came to Nigeria for his traditional marriage ceremony.

“I work in a restaurant in Brazil. I am 39 years old and I sincerely want to get married and have a family. In the process of trying to make more money, I was given 59 wraps of cocaine to take to Nigeria for N400,000 naira. Now I realized I have made a big mistake. I pray my woman will find a place in her heart to forgive me. I feel I am under a spell” he stated.

He hails from Enugu, Vanguard reports.

Read More...

Faces of the six men arrested for swallowing US$156,000 in Lagos

We brought you the report earlier of men apprehended by NDLEA who specializes in swallowing money. Well the above men swallowed US$156,00 in a bid to laundered money from Nigeria to overseas.  Just when you think you've heard everything.

These are the faces of the six members of a suspected money laundering syndicate that were arrested yesterday at the Excel Oriental Hotel, along Airport Road in Lagos by officials of the NDLEA for swallowing US$156,000 which is about N32 million.

The men identified as Kingsley Nwokenta, a bureau de change operator also known as Buchito; Augustine Onwuasoanya, 54, and Christian Okoli, 35, both based in Brazil; Uzoma Ezenwa, 33, a hotel manager; Ikenna Ezenwa; and Emmanuel Nwokenta. Inset is a photo of the dollars wrapped for swallowing.

Read More...

NDLEA Arrests Bureau de Change Operator & Others For Swallowing N32 million

 Six members of a suspected money laundering syndicate that specializes in swallowing dollars were today arrested at the Excel Oriental Hotel, along Airport Road in Lagos by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly swallowing US$156,000 (about N32 million) meant for export to Brazil.

In a statement released today, NDLEA said illicit exportation of currency by ingestion is a new trend in by-passing anti-money laundering operatives.

The anti-narcotic agency in its statement identified those arrested as Kingsley Nwokenta, a bureau de change operator also known as Buchito; Augustine Onwuasoanya, 54, and Christian Okoli, 35, both based in Brazil; Uzoma Ezenwa, 33, a hotel manager; Ikenna Ezenwa; and Emmanuel Nwokenta.

Investigations by NDLEA showed that Kingsley Nwokenta the owner of Amazon Bureau de Change, is the brain behind the syndicate.

 “He allegedly supplied US$120,000 to be swallowed and illicitly exported to Brazil. Onwuasoanya Augustine swallowed 74 wraps of dollars amounting to US$111,000. Christian Okoli who resides in Brazil had US$45,000 which he wanted to swallow.”

The statement by the anti-narcotic agency says one of the suspects arrested, Emmanuel Nwokenta, the manager of the bureau de change, played a “supportive role” in the alleged act while Ikenna Ezenwa, 28, was hired to wrap the money.

“He is believed to have acquired his skill from illicit drug wrapping. Ezenwa Uzoma, the hotel manager who has a strong link with members of the syndicate, wilfully obstructed the officers from discharging their duty. The agency will continue to rely on manpower training and intelligence-led drug control strategies to outwit criminal syndicates. We shall take reasonable measures to dislodge drug cartels and eradicate narcotics from our society. Any bureau de change operator that violates the law shall be punished accordingly.”the statement said

All the arrested members of the syndicate will be handed over to EFCC soon for further investigation.

Read More...

Drug Baron Arrested in Lagos(Photo)

 A 37-year-old man, Sylvester Chukwunwendu(pictured above) who runs a notorious drug syndicate in Nigeria has been apprehended by the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA. 

 Parading the suspect before newsmen in Lagos, the National Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said Sylvester, who runs a methamphetamine production laboratory in his house at in the Ajao Estate, Isolo area of Lagos, was arrested at Ozubulu in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State following a tip off.

“The Special Enforcement Team (SET) of the agency has concluded a model investigation of an international Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO), after 13 months intense surveillance on the suspect before he was finally arrested.". Mr Giade said

Sylvester hides under the cover of different company names such as Blessed Benita Global Limited, Ideal Motorcycle Company Limited and God’s Special Enterprise Limited which he owns to run the illicit business which has some international affiliations. He employs men and women who he pays as much as $5,000 per trip to traffic the banned substances to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.

The Chairman said he will soon be charged to court.

Read More...

Pictured : Single Mother Arrested by NDLEA For Inserting Heroin in her Private Part

 The NDLEA today, via their Twitter handle disclosed that this single mother pictured above was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency after heroin was found inside her private part. 

Read More...

Drama As Buruji Kashamu threatens suicide if NDLEA enters his home

Earlier, we reported that NDLEA masked forces has surrounded the Lekki phase 1 residence of Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu with the intentions of extraditing him to the USA to face drug-related offences but new information coming from Sahara Reporters shows there is drama as Kashamu has threatened to commit suicide, if the forces enters his home.

SaharaReporters has learned that Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu has barricaded himself in the master bedroom of his Ogun State residence, as Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents surround his home. Mr. Kashamu spoke briefly with a SaharaReporters correspondent and said that he would kill himself if anyone entered his home. The stand-off has been ongoing for several hours and Mr. Kashamu has not returned our calls as of recent minutes." See more tweets from SR 

Read More...

NDLEA Men Storms Buruji Kashamu’s Residence Set To Extradite Him To USA

Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have surrounded the residence of Ogun State Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, Channels Tv reports this morning.

The drug law enforcement agency is said to be set to extradite the Ogun State born politician to the United States of America to answer drug related accusations proffered against him.

It will be recalled that Kashamu had dragged the inspector-general of police and 11 others before a Federal High court sitting in Lagos, asking it to enforce his fundamental human right to freedom of movement. He has also been accusing former president Olusegun Obasanjo in the pages of newspaper that he has been the one calling for his head. 

I think the best thing to do is to go to the states and clear his name before coming back to Nigeria else he will contnuosly face harassment from the opposition and from international communities.

Read More...

19 Nigerians Attempt Shipping Drugs To Asia Despite Death Penalty

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) has said it saved 20 people from the death penalty in Asia by preventing them from smuggling drugs out of Nigeria.

 In a statement released on Thursday, the agency said since January 2014, 19 Nigerians and a Ghanaian have been arrested in Nigerian airports attempting to smuggle 106,914 kilogrammes of narcotics. Ahmadu Giade, NDLEA’s Chairman said:

“Sixteen of the suspects were apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos while four others including a Ghanaian were caught at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu. 

Their final destinations are Malaysia, China and Thailand where drug trafficking is punishable by death.”  

 On Tuesday, four Nigerians were among eight people executed by Indonesian authorities over drug-related offences.

 PremiumTimes reports that the breakdown of the drugs nabbed from the 20 suspected smugglers showed that 83.08kg was seized at the Lagos airport while 23.834kg was intercepted at the Enugu airport.

The seized drugs included:

 89.024kg of cannabis, 

9.375kg of methamphetamine, 

3.450kg of amphetamine, 

2.89kg of heroin and 2.175kg of cocaine.

 The only Ghanaian among the suspects, Musa Idrisa, also known as Charles Udenehi, was going to Bangkok, Thailand, with 450 grams of cocaine he had ingested.

 Three females were also among those apprehended. They include Chidinma Okafor, a professional dancer, caught with 3.450kg of amphetamine hidden in a pair of jeans trousers while attempting to board a flight to Malaysia; Eze Maureen caught with 6.200kg of cannabis on her way to China; and Alade Muyinotu found with 1.725kg of cocaine and 1.715kg of heroin on her way to China.

Read More...

Single Mother Caught With Drugs In Her Private Part

 A 31-year-old single mother was apprehended by the NDLEA for concealing 430 grams of heroin in her private part in a bid to evade arrest.

 The lady said she went into drug trafficking because she needed money to pay her bills.

 According to the suspect, “I am a single mother and I need money to take care of myself and my child and I used to sell clothes but the profit is inadequate to sustain my family. I would have earned half a million naira to pay for my rent and my child’s school fees if I had succeeded in bringing the drug.

“They paid for my return ticket and hotel accommodation. While in my hotel room, a Pakistani woman came to give me the drug.

“She also instructed me to conceal it in my private part to avoid arrest.

Unfortunately, NDLEA officers detected it,” she lamented.

This was disclosed to members of the public in a press statement issued in Ikeja by the head of Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju.

Ofoyeju revealed that the woman was arrested during an inward screening of passengers on an Emirates Airline flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

The NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, informed that the use of scanning machines facilitated the arrest.

Umar said, “During the inward screening of Emirate passengers, one Aladi Onyinye Juliet tested positive for narcotic ingestion.

“The drug was, subsequently, expelled, field-tested and weighed.”

The NDLEA Commander continued that preliminary investigation carried by the agency showed that suspect was on her way from Pakistan where she got the drug.

“The suspect who hails from Abia State also has established link with some Pakistani drug traffickers who sponsored her trip in collaboration with some local accomplices,” he stated.

The suspect is a 2007 graduate of St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Aba in Abia State.

While commenting on the arrest, the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, assured that the Agency will not relent in its fight against drug traffickers as it will rely heavily on the use of machines to detect narcotics.

Giade also said, “The NDLEA is investing in capacity building and modern equipment in drug detection. We hope to dislodge drug-trafficking cartels through superior intelligence and best global practices.

“Investigation is on-going to arrest other members of the drug cartel connected to her case.”

Read More...

19-year-old Pakistani Student Caught With N228m Worth Of Heroin At Muritala Mohammed International Airport

 A 19 year old Pakistani student named Iftikihar Muhammed Arslan, (pictured above) has been arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) for possession and attempting to smuggle 25.400kg of heroin said to be worth N228m into Nigeria, Vanguard reports.

 Arslan was apprehended at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport during inward screening on passengers on board a Qatar Airways flight. 25 parcels containing the hard drugs were discovered in his luggage.

The suspect believed to be in a drug cartel through his passport showed that he left Lahore, Pakistan with the drugs to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, then Doha, in Qatar, from where he connected to Lagos. Continue...

In his confessional statement, Arslan denied knowledge of the drugs in his bag, saying he was here in Nigeria to experience the beauty of Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

"I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos airport, the heroin was found in my luggage. This is my first time of coming to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two.” he said.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that this was the highest drug arrest they have made since this year and it goes to show that NDLEA is winning the fight against drug trafficking.

"This arrest and seizure will further send a warning to drug trafficking cartels that Nigeria is winning the fight against narcotics. NDLEA is prepared to halt the criminal activities of drug barons through a coordinated drug detection strategies. We are working very hard to also identify other members of the criminal group" he concluded.

Read More...

Tonto Dike and other Celebrities in drug use and trafficking probe

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said it is keeping tabs on more celebrities in Nollywood and the music industry for drug trafficking, abuse as well as links with drug cartels.

 The agency said the move became necessary, following its investigation into the activities of controversial actress and singer, Tonto Dikeh, for possible use of hard drugs. Dikeh had on June 28th, 2013, posted photographs of a wrap of hemp and grains of the weed formed into the letters, ‘Happy birthday POKO.’

 She also posted a photograph of herself with the inscription, ‘Mi smoke ganja mi smoke weed while my haterz smoke ma gossip.’ In an interview with reporters on Friday, the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that Nollywood stars had been prosecuted for drug-related offences.

 He said, “We are beaming our searchlight on more celebrities with regard to drug trafficking and abuse.

 “The arrest and conviction of Nollywood stars, Hassanat Akinwande, popularly known as Wunmi, and Tochi Uche have clearly shown that some members in the sector are vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation by drug cartels.

 “We have a responsibility to investigate and identify anyone involved in drug trafficking and use. We are deeply concerned, when such personalities are linked with drugs because of their large number of fans.”

 Ofoyeju said the implication of having celebrities dealing in hard drugs was that their fans might like to act like their role models. He added that the improper conduct of a celebrity might have “ripple effects” on their followers. “This will not be treated with kid gloves.

 It is counterproductive to the country’s drug abuse prevention campaign. Any breach of the NDLEA Act will not be condoned,” he stated.

 The NDLEA spokesman said sniffer dogs had been instrumental to major drug seizures in the country.

 “The heroin hidden inside woollen rug carpets imported from Pakistan was detected by the sniffer dogs. The dogs help to detect drugs that ordinarily are difficult to uncover, using normal search techniques,” he said.

 He further said the agency had not recorded any drug seizure on private jets, adding, “We are taking measures to ensure that drug trafficking cartels do not use such jets.”

 NDLEA, which said it would investigate Dikeh, had hinted that the actress and singer risked a minimum of 15 years in jail for allegedly encouraging the consumption of hemp. She, however, denied using the weed, saying the pictures were ‘photoshopped.’

Read More...

Baba Suwe appeals against quashing his compensation

Comedian, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, has lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, which nullified the N25million monetary compensation awarded to him by a Lagos High Court.

 The monetary award was made in his favour against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

 The notice of appeal filed by his counsel, Bamidele Aturu, on Friday, is praying the apex court to set aside the decision of the appeal court and uphold that of the trial court, which awarded monetary compensation to him.

 The Appeal Court had on May 31 quashed the judgment of the lower court, which ordered the NDLEA to pay him N25 million as compensation for detaining him for several days over allegation of drug trafficking offense.

 Justice Yetunde Idowu of a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, had awarded the compensation (amount) to the comedian.

 But the appellate court, in its judgment delivered by Justice Rita Pemu, considered all the three vital grounds of appeal in favour of the appellant (NDLEA).

 The NDLEA had, in its appeal, asked the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court.

 Justice Pemu, in her lead judgment, unanimously adopted by two other justices, namely: Chima Nweze and F. O. Akinbami, described the N25 million damages awarded to Baba Suwe as erroneous, oppressive and superfluous. Justice Pemu held that even though the trial judge had discretion to award costs in a fundamental human right suit, such award of damages must be based on law and not arbitrary.

 In addition, the appellate court held that the lower court judge erred in law when it ordered NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe N25 million as compensation and that the appellant should publish a public apology in two widely read national newspapers.

 Justice Pemu said: “Damages must be based on law, even though it is at the discretion of the trial judge. The award of N25 million to the respondent was based on wrong premises and it is uncalled for.”

 She further held that no evidence was placed before the court to warrant such outrageous award, adding that the court ought not to have overburdened NDLEA with such award of damages.

 On whether the NDLEA had reasonable causes to detain Baba Suwe from the day of his arrest (October 12, 2011) till October 21, 2011, when the Federal High Court order to detain him was obtained, Justice Pemu held that the agency was justified to do so.

 She added that the appellant placed before the lower court documentary evidence and exhibits being results of various scans conducted on Baba Suwe, which justified his detention for several days over allegation of drug trafficking.

 On whether the Lagos State High Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the respondent (Baba Suwe), Justice Pemu held that based on the pleadings before the trial judge, it is the Federal High Court that has constitutional jurisdiction to entertain the suit and not the state High Court.

 NDLEA had in its eight-page notice of appeal, signed by Femi Oloruntoba, stated that the trial judge erred in law when she held that NDLEA was not justified to detain Baba Suwe from the day of his arrest (October 12, 2011) till October 21, 2011, when the Federal High Court order to detain him was obtained.

 The appellant further stated that the trial judge erred in law and misdirected herself on facts when she held that the act of the NDLEA in detaining Baba Suwe for nine days was a flagrant abuse and infringement on his fundamental human right.

 Besides, the appellant argued that the lower court erred in law when it ordered it (NDLEA) to pay the applicant (Baba Suwe) N25 million as compensation and that the appellant should publish a public apology in two widely read national newspapers.

 Dissatisfied with the court judgment, the agency in December last year filed a motion for stay of execution of the entire verdict and appealed against it.

Read More...