Lifestyle

Police arrest 20-year-old woman with 103 wraps of ‘colorado’ in Lagos

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The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-year-old woman, Aminat Ajayi, with 103 wraps of ‘colorado’, a street lingo for synthetic cannabinoids.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, April 16, 2023, said the suspect was arrested during a raid at Whitesand area of Ijora-Badia.

“DPO Ijora-Badia and team, acting on actionable intelligence, stormed Whitesand area where 20-year-old Aminat Ajayi was arrested with 103 wraps of ‘colorado.’

Investigation is ongoing. Reduction in drug is directly proportional to reduction in crime. We will not relent,” he stated.

Lifestyle

NDLEA arrests three grandfathers over 52kgs cocaine, skunk

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three sexagenarian grandfathers and a Nigerien concerning the seizure of over 52.252 kilogrammes of cocaine, methamphetamine and skunk.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the agency seized 32,590 pills of opioids in Lagos, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, and two courier companies.

He said a man on the NDLEA watchlist, Benjamin Chimaobi, who frequents Cameroun, Ethiopia and Uganda, was arrested on February 18 at Victory Estate, Iba, Ojo area of Lagos.

He said the suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure of a 19.70kgs cocaine abandoned on an Ethiopian airline flight that arrived at Lagos airport on Thursday, February 9.

According to him, Mr Chimaobi had travelled to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to pick up the consignment.

“He claimed it was handed over to him in a black backpack bag on the plane in Addis Ababa but failed to disembark with it on arrival in Lagos.

“While the agency continues to investigate the flight crew members, relevant intelligence and investigative tools were deployed to identify the passenger who brought the consignment to Nigeria.”

Mr Babafemi said Mr Chimaobi was eventually unravelled and traced to Victory Estate, Iba, where he was arrested.

He added that operatives on February 23 intercepted an intending passenger on a Turkish Airline flight to Torino via Milan, Italy, at the departure hall of Lagos airport.

The suspect, Obazee Timothy Eguagie, was arrested with various quantities of opioids consisting of 22,840 tablets of Tramadol 225mg weighing 10.60 kg.

“Others include 1000 tablets of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 600 grams; 2, 300 capsules of Tramadol 100mg weighing 800 grams and 60 tablets of Rohypnol 1mg, weighing 19 grams.”

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed inside cloths and wrapped with black tapes.

He also said the NDLEA operatives attached to Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) import shed of the airport on February 24 intercepted eight cartons of shoes from Los Angeles, United States.

Mr Babafemi said a diligent examination of the cargo showed the shoes were used to conceal 37 parcels of a Loud variant of Cannabis with a gross weight of 20.10 kilogrammes.

He said a 63-year-old grandfather, Balogun Akinlabi, hired as a freight agent to clear the illicit consignment, has already been arrested.

“Two other sexagenarians arrested in connection with drug trafficking include Butven Siman, 62, who was nabbed with 5.5kgs skunk on Friday, February 17, at Timbol village, Langtang South LGA, Plateau.

“Also, 65-year-old Musa Shuaib was arrested with a kilogramme of cannabis on Thursday, February 23, in the Adewole area of Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.”

Mr Babafemi said operatives of NDLEA in Lagos also recovered a total of 4.292 kilogrammes of psychoactive drugs, including Methamphetamine, Tramadol, Lexotan, and Swindon.

He said the drugs, which were at two major courier companies in Lagos, were concealed in walls of cartons, picture frames, bathing soap packs and bedsheets.

He added that they were recovered from parcels going to the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia by officers of the NDLEA attached to the logistics firms.

Mr Babafemi also said NDLEA operatives at Illela border in Sokoto State on February 21 intercepted a Nigerien, Bashar Abdu of Kwanni, Niger Republic, with 1.460kgs of skunk wrapped around his private part.

He said another suspect, Mohammed Garba (a.k.a Alfazazi), was arrested with 6,390 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, weighing 3.4kgs on February 23 along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

World News

Two Nigerian nationals and American man sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in Cambodia for drug trafficking

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The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, sentenced two Nigerians, an American and a Cambodian to imprisonment ranging from three to 25 years, and also fined them ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, in connection with selling over two kilograms of meth to an undercover police officer in the capital, in 2021.

The Presiding Judge Kim Sokunthea named the four accused as Theam Tola, 36, a former Chinese-English-Interpreter; Chineme Nwoko Precious, 41; David Vincent; 48; both Nigerians and a former English teacher; Matthew David Sample, 40; American national.

Judge Sokunthea said among them, Theam Tola was sentenced to three years in prison and was fined 4 million Riels (about $1,000) to put in state’s budget, while Chineme Nwoko Precious, David Vincent and Matthew David Sample were sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined 40 million Riels (about $10,000).

“They were all charged with “drug possession, transportation and trafficking” under Article 40 of Cambodian Law on Drugs Control, she added.

Relating to Tola’s arrest, Judge Sokunthear said on February 5, 2022 he was arrested in Chroy Changvar district’s Chroy Changvar commune, with a package of drugs to sell to an undercover police officer, posing as a drug dealer.

She noted Matthew David Sample’s arrest was on the same day around 7:30 pm in Tuol Kork district’s Phsar Depo commune and police seized more than 1kg of meth from him.

“Based on Sample’s confession and his cooperation, police later arrested David Vincent around 8:30 am on February 6 in Dangkor commune and police seized about 1kg of meth from Vincent,” she added.

She added that based on Vincent’s confession and cooperation, police then arrested Nwoko Precious Chineme, currently interned at Prey Sar prison for 27 years for a previous drug offence in 2009.

World News

Nigerian student who abandoned school is jailed for smuggling drugs in Cyprus

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A Nigerian man identified as Chinedu Ogugua Bosah, has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for smuggling into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

In March 2022, Chinedu Ogugua Bosah and Ameer Hussain were arrested in connection with the 1 kilo of cocaine seized during the White Wolf operation in Minareliko’y.

Chinedu was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

President Fad’l Aksun, who read the decision, on Wednesday said:

“The legislator prescribes a prison sentence of up to 18 years for the most severe type of case in which the accused is convicted.”

Aksun explained that the drugs imported by the accused are cocaine type and are among the dangerous drugs in Class A. He said Chinedu was just a courier hence the lighter sentence.

Asun said: “The role of the accused before us is that of a courier. As a requirement of this role, the accused is the person who imports the drug subject to the lawsuit himself. Its role should be regarded as primary in terms of import crime.

When evaluating the issue in terms of the crime of saving, we see that the role of the accused is one degree less than those who will earn money from the sale of drugs, and we consider this issue in favor of it.”

Aksun stated that the accused had been wandering around the country like a ghost for almost 7 years without any record.

“The adventure of the accused, which started as a university student in our country, ended in prison after he committed a crime, the accused who has not renewed his university registration since 2015, has not been identified.

“It is understood that the state authority is surprised about basic issues such as how the accused lives in our country, how he earns money, where he stays, and it is only detected by the police after he committed this crime.”

Lifestyle, World News

Five Nigerian nationals arrested with drugs in South Africa

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Five Nigerian nationals have been arrested for possession of drugs in Pretoria, South Africa.

The suspects were arrested by Tshwane Metro Police Drug Unit members in Garsfontein on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

The police in a statement on Wednesday, said the drugs found in their possession have an estimated street value of close to half a million Rand.

“The TMPD members responded to a tip-off on Tuesday 8 November 2022 about a white Suzuki swift vehicle that was delivering drugs at Atterbury road,” the statement read.

“The officers traced the suspect to his residence at a complex, inside his unit they found 4 suspects busy packaging heroine (nyaope) and crystal meth.

“They were all arrested for dealing and possession of drugs. The drugs found has an estimated street value of close to half a million Rand. Well done team.”

World News

NDLEA alerts on plot to introduce lethal synthetic opioid, Fentanyl to Nigerian market

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has uncovered plans by some unscrupulous elements to introduce a lethal synthetic opioid, Fentanyl, which is 100 times stronger than Tramadol, into the Nigerian market.

Spokesperson of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, November 8, warned that the illicitly manufactured drug is capable of causing mass casualty among the youth population being targeted by the cartels.

The agency said every step must be taken to ensure that the drug which is currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the US is not allowed to circulate in Nigeria because of its lethality and the current drug abuse prevalence of 14.4% in the country.

“We are not unaware of desperate efforts by some drug cartels to introduce to the Nigerian market, Fentanyl, which according to the CDC, is 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin.

This, they plan to do either in liquid or powder form and/or with misleading labels to target our youth population.

This they may also mix with other prescription drugs. The illegally manufactured fentanyl in its liquid form can come in nasal sprays, eye drops, or small candies,” the statement read.

“As a result, parents and other stakeholders are advised to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting experimenting with this illicit substance.

Symptoms for fentanyl exposure and/or overdose include pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or losing consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin

“The Agency wishes to assure the public that all necessary assets have been deployed to monitor the cartels involved in this latest threat to public health with a view to frustrating their criminal plot and make them face the wrath of the law.”

Lifestyle

NDLEA releases photo of billionaire drug baron who used his Lagos mansion to store 13 million tramadol pills

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The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has released a photo of the billionaire drug baron who used his Lagos mansion to store 13 million tramadol pills.

In a statement shared by the agency’s spokesperson Femi Babafemi, it was disclosed that the drug had a street value of N8.8billion.

The drug baron identified as Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia, is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Ltd and he was arrested barely two months after NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another drug kingpin in the estate, Chris Emeka Nzewi.

The statement read;

No less than Thirteen Million, Four Hundred and Fifty One Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Six (13,451,466) pills of Tramadol 225mg worth Eight Billion Eight Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N8,860,000,000) in street value have been recovered by operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, from one of the mansions of a billionaire drug baron, Ugochukwu Nsofor Chukwukadibia, in the highbrow residential estate, Victoria Garden City, Lekki area of Lagos.

The arrest of Ugochukwu who is the Chairman of Autonation Motors Ltd is coming barely two months after NDLEA uncovered a methamphetamine clandestine laboratory in the residence of another drug kingpin in the estate, Chris Emeka Nzewi, who was arrested on Saturday 30th July along with a chemist, Sunday Ukah, who cooked the illicit drug for him.

At least, 258.74 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and various precursor chemicals used for the production of the toxic drug were recovered from Nzewis home during his arrest.

Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Friday 30th September stormed the Plot A45 Road 2 home of the 52-year-old billionaire drug kingpin.

A search of the expansive mansion led to the discovery of 443 cartons of Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg, which contains 13, 451, 466 pills of the drug while some cartons were already burnt in a fire incident in the house same day.

Before his arrest, Ugochukwu who hails from Ihiala local government area of Anambra state has been on the Agencys watch list as one of those behind the tramadol drug cartel in Nigeria.

Preliminary investigation shows that he has about six mansions within the VGC, one of which he uses to warehouse the tramadol consignment, while he lives in the one at Plot Z-130 Road 67 and another as his office.

Five exotic vehicles have also been located in two of his mansions, out of which two SUVs including a bullet jeep have been successfully removed to the Agencys facility.Reacting to the latest drug haul, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men involved in the operation for their diligence while also appreciating Nigerians for supporting the Agency in its arduous task of ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Politics

Oyegun’s panel to discuss petition seeking Tinubu’s disqualification over drugs charges, certificate forgery

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The ruling All Progressives Congress’ screening committee headed by John Odigie Oyegun has received a petition to disqualify Bola Tinubu over allegations of drug dealing and certificate forgery.

An APC member Sagir Mai Iyali had in his petition to the panel alleged that how Mr Tinubu failed to indicate in his nomination filings that he had a case in the United States in the early 1990s, during which prosecutors extracted over $400,000 in forfeitures from the former Lagos governor.

Mr Tinubu was also once accused of filing false claims to the electoral office INEC when he ran for governor in 1999. Late rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi made the allegations at the time, saying Mr Tinubu falsely claimed to have attended Chicago State University.

The Supreme Court did not find Mr Tinubu ineligible to stand for office over the matter following a lengthy trial in the 2000s.

Mr Tinubu was also not convicted in the U.S., but his critics said the forfeitures were enough grounds to assume his guilt. He strongly denies all the allegations.

Mr Mai Iyali’s letter, which was first reported by Sahara Reporters, was received at the ruling party’s headquarters in Abuja as screening came underway on Monday morning. The panel is led by Mr Oyegun, who has been nursing a political rivalry against Mr Tinubu.

In his argument, Mr Mai Iyali said: “We understand that Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has since procured his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms and has submitted same to the party has certain issues that clearly amount to a similar disqualification scenario. 

“From the information contained in prior submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly in 1999, Mr Tinubu Presented a false claim, on oath, of his attendance at University of Chicago from 1972-1976.

“It is clear now that these claims are false. Not only was this filed in the INEC form with a declaration on oath on December 20th, 1999, but it was also contained in an affidavit of loss sworn to before the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja Registry, December 29th 1998. 

“The latter claim that seeks to transpose history is untenable. Mr Tinubu has to show proof he attended University of Chicago or he must stand disqualified as the opposition is in possession of these same documents. 

“Over the years, the identity of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been shrouded in secrecy. In fact, no one can claim to know the identity of the man. 

“Similarly, the age of Tinubu is not known to anyone. Though, it’s not contention that he is above the statutory age of 35-years, it’s equally important that his exact age is known.”

The national convention and presidential primaries of the APC have been scheduled for June 6. Mr Tinubu is currently undergoing screening before the presidential nomination panel at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

A spokesman for Mr Tinubu did not immediately return a request seeking comments about the petition on Monday evening.

Entertainment

Use of drugs more prevalent in South-West –NDLEA boss, Marwa

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The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa (retired), has disclosed that about 14.4 per cent of Nigerians between the ages of 16 and 64 are using drugs.

He said this was three times the global average, noting that zonally, the South-West part of the country had the worst prevalence in the use of illicit substances.

Marwa who spoke on Friday, during the inauguration of the Behavioural Action Care Foundation Centre in Ogbomoso, built by the Ogbomoso First Group, said there was no community in Nigeria that had not suffered from the debilitating disease of drug use, drug abuse, and addiction.

He said: “The prevalence in the South-West geo-political zone is 22.4 per cent. Oyo State in particular is 23 per cent. This is followed by the South-South with the prevalence of 16.6 per cent and the South-East 14.8 per cent.

This is followed by the North-East with 18.6 per cent, North-West 12 per cent and North-Central 10 per cent. Kano has a prevalence of 16 per cent. This rate is very high considering its population.”

Marwa called on parents and other stakeholders to demand a drug-free certificate as a requisite for marriage as well as other important programmes and commended the Ogbomoso group and traditional rulers for their support.

Meanwhile, he said the agency would continue to crack down on all sources of illicit substances in Nigeria, and asked for more collaboration in the fight against its use, noting that the war against it must be a collective effort.

Politics

What exactly do we produce aside ankara fabric?

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The present director general of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye stated that only 30% of medicines are produced in Nigeria while the remaining 70% are imported. Apparently, the statistic of drugs produced in the country is outrageously low. In my own view, I would say that this has been one of the major setbacks for pharmacists in the country and a reason why a youth like me will rather opt to study medicine.

Director General of NAFDAC

Pharmacists, Virologists, Botanists, Biochemists, Chemists, Microbiologists and other related disciplines are needed around the world during a crucial period (pandemic) like this. However , in Nigeria, you see a Biochemist working in the bank as a cashier or in an organization as a personal assistant. Disciplines such as these do not just exist for people to be educated…more than that, it is because they have a purpose to proffer solutions which will make this space, “the earth” , a safe habitat for humans.

Who isn’t relevant? Which discipline isn’t relevant? Now we can see the lapses and downside of not maximizing the potentials of these professionals in Nigeria. Madagascar produced an herbal concoction to fight coronavirus with the support of its government. A similar kind of herbal concoction that Nigerian herbal practitioners produce in their homes to save cost. This calls for attention, how long do we wait before the government begin to explore the talents and brains displayed by its people?

Even a regulatory body like NAFDAC will take forever to approve a medicine or processed food. I must admit that at the moment, setting up a food processing company isn’t an option for me…perhaps, in future. At the moment, I will rather farm and sell the proceeds. Why do I say this? It feels like everything in Nigeria is politicised and being an employee isn’t as difficult as being an entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur you try to set things up but what about the policies? Are there policies which will make entrepreneurs to thrive in their businesses and not create major setbacks?

The director general also stated that capital punishment will be the penalty for people who produce fake drugs. Of course over the years, the agency “NAFDAC” battled with this, even up till now. What about producing items without an approved NAFDAC number? That’s also an offence according to the rules laid down by NAFDAC but what do we see? We see so many entrepreneurs setting up businesses and not getting their commodities approved by NAFDAC when it is required. However desperation and survival reasons are given by entrepreneurs who take this risk.

If it is quite affordable to get a NAFDAC approval in the monetary aspect aside other requirements , I can bet that more people will venture into production. This will in turn drastically reduce the rate at which drugs are imported into the country. If the government doesn’t embrace and support local production, who will? Now the government spends millions to purchase surgical face masks and personal protective equipment for our health practitioners. What exactly do we produce in this country aside ankara fabric?

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