The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has arrested two brothers; John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, while attempting to smuggle five kilograms of cocaine to India.
The suspects were arrested on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos when a 5-kilograms of whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine was found in the walls of their suitcases.
Spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Sunday.
He said the arrest of the Abugu brothers followed proactive processing of credible intelligence.
“They claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment but when their suitcases were thoroughly searched by NDLEA officers, whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine were discovered on the walls of their bags,” Babafemi said.
In another development, NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command same day, Thursday 3rd April intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian – British man, Parker Darren Hazekia Osei with 36 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 19.40kg packed in a giant travelling bag.
“The suspect who claim to be a student of Computer Science at East London University, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport.
“In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria,” the statement said
Also, the NDLEA operatives in Kogi State have arrested a 33-year-old lady, Ngozi Ogili while moving 3-kilograms of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja.
“She was nabbed in a commercial transport bus along Okene-Lokoja highway on Monday 31st March 2025.
“A follow up operation at her point of delivery in Apo mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of quantities of Loud and Colorado, both synthetic strains of cannabis.
“In Abia State, NDLEA officers on Saturday, 5th April arrested a 75-year-old grandpa, Nna Nnanna Felix with 1.6kg skunk, a strain of cannabis during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West LGA, while another suspect David Chinemerem, 21, was nabbed with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode road, Aba on Tuesday 1st April.
“No fewer than 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu along Potiskum-Damaturu road, Yobe State by NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 5th April, just as raid operations at Osogbo motor park, Onitsha and a house at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State led to the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the seizure of 195,000 pills of tramadol.
“Also arrested during the raid at the motor park was Ugochukwu Ojalanonye with 4.2-kg codeine syrup and 5.4-kg pentazocine.
“In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, 3rd April arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu with 25-kg skunk and 90.4g of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Wuse market Abuja, while two ladies: Faith Effiong Etim, 64, and Victoria Asuquo Etim, 40, were nabbed on Friday, 4th April when NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army raided cannabis plantations in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani LGA of Cross River State where 250,000 kilograms of the psychoactive plant were destroyed on over 100 hectares of farm land,” the statement explained.
Babafemi also stated that officers and men of the various Commands and formations of the agency across the country also scaled up their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities during the week under review.
He said the activities were taken to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others during the week.
“These include ; WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Cave City Secondary School, Ogidi, Anambra State; residents of Dan’iyau village, Batagarawa LGA, Katsina; and members of Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers in Sangere and Kwanan Waya, Yola, Adamawa State,among others,” he said
Reacting to the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Yobe, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Cross River and FCT Commands of the agency for a job well done.
Marwa stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated and should be sustained. (vitalnewsngr.com)
