NDLEA arrests grandpa, others for dealing in illicit drugs

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old grandfather at Magbon, Ogun State, for having 57kg of Indian hemp.

Also found in the suspect’s possession were 2,700 pills of tramadol and 231 bottles of codeine syrup.

Mr. Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesman, stated on Sunday in Abuja that its operatives also raided a drug joint in Benin on Tuesday, and arrested a 24-year-old salesgirl, from whom they recovered assorted illicit drugs.

He added that a follow-up operation on Wednesday led to the arrest of the owner of the joint, a 36-year-old commander of a vigilance group in the area.

He stated also that NDLEA operatives recovered 179kg of Indian hemp in Badagry, Lagos State, on Wednesday, while they arrested a 25-year-old lady in Bagga, Borno, who had cocaine and heroin in her possession.

Babafemi added that a 26-year-old and a 22-year-old male suspect were also nabbed with quantities of cocaine and heroin in Meri and Babban Layi areas of Maiduguri, respectively.

The agency also impounded about 44,820 pills of illicit psychotropic drugs being taken to Zamfara by a 25-year-old and a 54-year-old on Jegga-Sokoto Road in Kebbi.

The NDLEA also arrested a 35-year-old farmer on his farm, where he grows tomatoes and Indian hemp, at Birnin Yero in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Babafemi stated.

“Two suspects were also arrested in a commercial bus as they were travelling from Lagos to Kano with 99 blocks of Indian hemp on them.

“The drugs weighed 37kg and were intercepted on the Kwali-Gwagwalada Expressway in the FCT on Monday, Feb. 19.

“Another suspect was arrested in the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra, with 483 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in two 50-litre kegs.

“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the syrup,’’ Babafemi stated.