*Intercepts 8.2kg methamphetamine concealed in chocolate packs in Lagos
A snake-guarded shrine used for storing illicit drugs in the Igor community of Benin City, Edo State, was raided by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The agents discovered a specially constructed large hole storage in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects.
Various quantities of illicit substances, including methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona—strong strains of cannabis—totalling 8.743 kilograms, were retrieved from the deep hole dug in the wall of the shrine building.
During the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, two women, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested after the black snake guarding the shrine was neutralized. Additionally, on Saturday, June 22, NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, arresting Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, and recovering 209kg of cannabis and a motorcycle.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo area. The highly addictive substance, also known as ice or crystal meth, was packed in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and concealed in the casing of three loudspeakers. A 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume, who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was arrested on Wednesday, June 19, at the park.
In Abuja, on Tuesday, June 18, operatives intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle with amber lights and a fake registration number of a security agency at Kiyi village in the Kuje area of the FCT.
The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8kg, procured in Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr Francis Omofa, linked to the consignment, was arrested and claimed to have been in the illicit drug business for 10 years.
Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities across the country. These included enlightenment lectures for students and teachers at St. Peters College, Nibo, Anambra; Apostolic Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State; Immanuel Baptist High School, Oyo Town, Oyo State; Federal Government Science and Technical College, Otukpa, Benue State; as well as advocacy lectures during Juma’at prayers in Umuahia, Abia State, and a visit to the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, by the state Command of NDLEA.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the efforts of the officers and men of the Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands.
He praised their balanced approach in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, urging them to maintain the offensive action against drug cartels and intensify their WADA social advocacy campaign.
