Metro
NDLEA Intercepts Christmas Colorado, Cannabis Juice in Lagos
Consignments of Colorado concealed in vehicles imported from Montreal, Canada, and packs of cannabis juice flown in from South Africa, meant for distribution ahead of Christmas, have been intercepted.
A statement on Sunday said men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency seized the drugs at the Tincan seaport, Apapa, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.
No fewer than 12 suspects were reportedly arrested in connection with the two seizures.
The statement, signed by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport and the search of a consolidated cargo from South Africa led to the discovery of smuggled bottles of cannabis juice with a gross weight of 16.50kg on Wednesday, December 21.
“Investigations by anti-narcotic officers subsequently led to the arrest of four freight agents: Soremekun Wasiu, Olufisayo Dayo, Moruf Bashir and Imole Ajayi, whose statements eventually led to the arrest of the consignee, a wine shop business owner, Emebede Chuka, the following day, Thursday, December 22.
“Also, an attempt to export quantities of cannabis and ecstasy pills also known as MDMA concealed in beverage drink, Bournvita, containers to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, through the NAHCO export shed on Friday, December 23, was frustrated while a vulcaniser given the assignment for a fee of N4,000, Iyanda Ogunleye Yaya, has been arrested,” the statement added.
In the same vein, a consignment of 185 parcels of cannabis indica, popularly called Colorado, weighing 61.3kgs were reportedly seized during a joint examination of a container at the Tincan seaport, Lagos.
The container, marked MSCU5206726 from Montreal, Canada, was declared as containing three units of used vehicles.
However, upon a 100% examination, it was found to contain two vehicles; a 2009 Toyota Corolla and a 2009 Ford Econoline bus, as well as used car engines, bicycles, shoes and other items, including the drugs. Two dock workers: Abdulquadri Abdulazeez and Ogbuji Kenneth, are already in NDLEA custody in connection with the seizure following their initial arrest by the port security and the police.
In Kano, two suspects: Nura Zakariya’u and Alkasim Abubakar, were arrested along Zaria-Kano Road, Kwanar Dangora, with 161 blocks of cannabis weighing 152kg and various quantities of exol and codeine-based syrup, while a total of 100,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from a suspect, Amaechi Johnson, in Imo State, on his way to Onitsha, Anambra State.
The Punch
By Eric Elezuo
A security expect and Chief Executive Officer, Safety Signatures Limited, Dr. Cynthia Gregg, has identified the need for individuals to have intimidate and dominion over their fellow man as one of the reasons for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Nigerian Civil space, thereby resulting in insecurity and unsafe habitation.
Gregg made the observation while participating as a panelist during the panel session of the 2023 National Security Conference of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), on Thursday at the Civic Centre, Lagos.
The security practitioner noted that the issue of small arms and light weapons in the hands of non state actors, has become a major concern to all and sundry as killings abound, affecting both men in uniform and their civilian counterparts in the country today.
“We have noticed that in our society today, the person who carries the weapon is the most feared, and so because everyone wants to be feared, wants to dominate and intimidate the other person, they go to any length to acquire illegal weapons. That explains why when a robber encounters someone, the first thing they do is brandish a weapon or unleash some brutality to subdue their victim. It is the norm, unfortunately,” she said.
She further called on the public to encourage and help the law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties by saying something when they see something, and advocated community engagement to deal with challenges of proliferation of lethal weapons in the hands of non state actors.
Again, Gregg lauded the efforts of NAOSNP in using its platform to propagate safety and security through fruitful engagements with relevant institutions and reportage of credible security stories as well as advocacy through its enviable conferences.
The Lagos State Police Command had said the autopsy conducted on Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, had been concluded.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to The Punch during a telephone conversation on Thursday.
He said, “Autopsy has been concluded. Awaiting results.”
Earlier on, while responding to an enquiry by the paper concerning arrests made by the police in connection with the late singer’s death, Hundeyin said, “I can’t answer questions on the arrests yet because I don’t have that update. However, the nurse is in our custody; I can confirm that.”
The body of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has been exhumed for autopsy.
Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed the development via his X handle on Thursday.
The Lagos Police image maker wrote: “Exhumation completed. Autopsy to commence. #JusticeForMohad #Justice4Mohbad.”
