Metro
NDLEA Intercepts Heroin, Codeine at Lagos Airport, Tincan Seaport, Seize Drugged Cookies Across States
Barely a week after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, intercepted N6 billion worth of Amphetamine, popularly known as jihadists’ drug at the Apapa port in Lagos, operatives of the Agency have again seized over 24, 311 kilograms of heroin, codeine as well as Arizona and Colorado variants of cannabis in fresh drug busts at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja and the Tincan seaport, Apapa, Lagos state.
A statement signed by the Agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the seizure came on Friday 3rd September, 2021 at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA where two consignments containing 10.350kg heroin and 25.2kg cannabis from South Africa were intercepted. In series of sting operations between Saturday 4th Sept and Monday 6th Sept, in different parts of Lagos, four suspects were arrested including Mrs. Bello Kafayat Ayo who was picked from Shino Street, Palmgroove area of the state.
At the Tincan seaport, Apapa, narcotic officers intercepted a 40ft container loaded with 22,590 kilograms of Barcadin Codeine syrup on Monday 6th Sept following intelligence received from international partners on the container since May 2021. The container was also found to include 4,020.03kg of analgesic tablets and 47 cartons of insulated hot pots used to conceal the illicit drugs, all imported from India. Equally, on Friday 10th Sept, a consignment of Colorado weighing 17.5kg and hidden inside a Grand Caravan Dodge vehicle shipped in a 40ft container from Montreal, Canada, was also intercepted and seized at the Tincan port.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old graduate, Miss Bee Okoro has been arrested in Abuja for producing and selling drugged candies and cookies. A 27-year-old dispatch rider, Idewo Raimi who handles door-to-door delivery for her was also arrested.
The suspects who were arrested at Garki Area 11 on Friday 10th Sept, with a number of their drugged products and 400grams of Loud and Arizona, confessed they have been in the drug business for over a year.
In Edo state, a total of 1,425.2 kilograms of compressed blocks of cannabis sativa were seized in a raid on Aviosi outskirt, close to Uzebba, Owan west LGA, on Monday 6th Sept, while on the same day one Yahaya Mamman was nabbed along Zaria-Danja road, Kaduna with 10.3kg Tramadol and 60.5kg Exol-6. The previous day, Thursday 5th Sept, one ThankGod Danladi was arrested at Tudun Wada area of Jalingo, the Taraba state capital with 44.2kg of cannabis.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Kwara state on Tuesday 7th Sept, arrested a 36-year-old lady, Yusuf Sherifat who recently completed a jail sentence following her conviction by a Federal High Court in Ilorin for dealing in 22 grams of crack cocaine. Her latest arrest along Specialist Hospital Road, Alagbado, Ilorin, followed intelligence that she has resumed sale of crack cocaine in Ilorin metropolis. This time around, she devised another means of delivering drugs along the road to known customers who contact her via telephone calls.
In Gombe state, raids across the state between Wednesday 1st Sept and Friday 10th Sept led to the arrest of at least nine drug dealers from who assorted illicit drugs weighing over 150kg were recovered. One of such was the interception of a DAF truck loaded with 128kg of psychotropic substances coming from Onitsha, Anambra state along Gombe-Yola road.
In his reaction to the latest drug busts at the Lagos airport, Tincan seaport and across the FCT, Edo, Kaduna, Taraba, Kwara and Gombe states, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the commanders, officers and men of the commands for their resilience and bravery. He said the series of arrests and seizures across the country further affirm NDLEA’s zero tolerance for production, trafficking and abuse of any illicit substance, warning that drug dealers who are yet to have a change of heart must be ready to contend with the new NDLEA.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam has reiterated the commitment of the Ministry to establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Police reform roadmap.
He made this known according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), during the stakeholder’s engagement on police reforms comprising the Chairman Police Service Commission; the German Ambassador to Nigeria; the Director-General of the Institute of Police Studies; and representatives of the National Security Adviser; Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigeria Correctional Service; Nigeria Police Trust Fund; CLEEN Foundation; United Nations Development Partners (UNDP) held at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja.
The Minister said the Ministry will coordinate donor support strategically in order to prevent duplication of efforts, optimize the convergence of assistance, and ensure judicious allocation of resources to identified priorities in our police development plan.
“This event aligns with our unwavering commitment to fulfilling the mandate set forth by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to reform the Nigeria Police in accordance with global best practices. Furthermore, we will actively promote adherence to the principles of trust and confidence, which are indispensable to successful policing,” he said.
Gaidam expressed that the reform of our police force is not just a task but a crucial priority for the current administration. As the primary responsibility assigned to the Ministry of Police Affairs by President Tinubu’s administration in October 2023, and directed the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Police Affairs, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission to develop a comprehensive blueprint for the sustainable reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, “This mandate reflects the administration’s recognition of the urgent need for transformation within our policing system. This initiative is designed to reshape the narrative surrounding police reforms in Nigeria, aiming to move beyond the rhetoric that has characterized past efforts.”
He posited that the core objective of the stakeholders’ engagement is to initiate a series of meaningful conversations aimed at building a multi-party, cross-societal consensus on police reforms.
He added, “We recognize that true change cannot occur in isolation; it requires the involvement of various segments of the society. By engaging different stakeholders, we aim to educate the general public about the intricacies of policing. This education is essential for fostering the consensus needed to create a nationally-owned reform blueprint that will create a clear and actionable path forward that resonates with the realities of our society.”
The Minister reaffirmed that the engagement with stakeholders is not a one-time event; it is essential throughout the entire reform process noting that public opinion must be sought and valued at every stage of the initiative and to ensure that the reforms are reflective of the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.
In his remarks, rhe German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annet Gunther, stated that the German government has significantly invested in strengthening police training by refurbishing and equipping training facilities in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, and Kaduna, and over 1000 police trainers have been trained in modern, adult-oriented learning technique, specialized training in leadership, human rights; crisis communication and gender-sensitive policing.
“Through our work with civil society organizations and national institutions, we have promoted key governance reforms, such as the establishment of the Police Transformation and Reform Office (PORTO) now succeeded by the Police Reform Secretariat which drives the reform agenda forward,” she said.
In continuation of its programme to spread joy to Nigerians in the New Year, Globacom, on Thursday held a draw in Ibadan, Oyo State, to select a new set of winners in its Festival of Joy promo.
The draw, held at the company’s Challenge Office, was witnessed by the media and Glo customers, some of who excitedly assisted in drawing the winning numbers.
The winners who emerged from the draw will receive their prizes at a presentation ceremony to be held at the Ring Road, Ibadan Gloworld shop of the company, on Monday, February 3. They include two winners of brand-new Kia Picanto cars and several winners of sewing machines, generators and grinding machines.
Globacom encouraged customers who desire to participate in the promo to dial *611# and keep recharging (voice and data during the promo period) in order to be eligible to win the prizes on offer, while new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
“Customers are required to recharge up to N100,000 cumulatively during the promo period to qualify for the draw for the Prado Jeep, N50,000 cumulative recharge for Kia Picanto, N10,000 in a month for tricycle and N5,000 total recharge in a month to win a generator. For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2,500 in a month is required, while for the grinding machine, a recharge of N1000 in a week will be eligible for the draw”, the company explained.
In the wake of a good number of road traffic crashes that resulted into fire outbreak in recent times, and the urgent need to bring the menace to an end, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS) have entered into a historic partnership aimed at eliminating fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
A statement by the FRSC’s Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the groundbreaking collaboration will witness the joint training of personnel from both agencies, joint enforcement patrol, as well as improved data sharing to enhance response times and effectiveness.
The partnership, which was formalized by the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Shehu Mohammed and the Controller-General, FFS, Engr. Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu at the national headquarters of the Corps, marks a significant milestone in the quest to reduce the incidence of fire-related crashes on Nigerian roads.
Speaking during the visit, the Controller-General noted that the Federal Fire Service is committed to protecting lives and properties, and this partnership will enable the two services to respond more effectively to fire-related emergencies on the roads. He showed optimism as he looks forward to working closely with the FRSC to achieve shared goals.
Responding to the Controller General, the Corps Marshal highlighted that the partnership is a testament to the Corps’ commitment to safety and determination to explore innovative solutions to the challenges facing the nation’s transportation sector. He noted that by combining expertise and resources, the agencies can significantly reduce the risk of escalation of fire-related crashes and make the roads safer for all users.
The joint training program will focus on equipping personnel from both agencies with the skills and knowledge needed to respond effectively to fire-related crashes. The program will cover topics such as fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency response.
In addition to the joint training program, the partnership will also involve improved data sharing and effective patrol operations between the two agencies to enforce compliance on having fire extinguishers in vehicles. This will enable them to share critical information on fire-related crashes, including incident locations, response times, and outcomes.
By combining their strengths and resources, the FRSC and FFS are poised to make a significant impact on road safety in Nigeria. This partnership serves as a model for future collaborations between agencies and underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in achieving shared goals.
