Pregnant woman, widow nabbed over N3.2m counterfeit cash, illicit substance

NDLEA recovers illicit drugs in raids

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) have intercepted a commercial bus conveying N3.2million counterfeit cash owned by three suspects: eight- month pregnant Favour Peter, 24; Esther Adukwu, 27, and Ochigbo Michael, 39.

The suspects were arrested at Jabi park in Abuja in a follow up operation on Tuesday, April 9, following the seizure of the fake naira notes in Lokoja, Kogi state.

Also, NDLEA officers in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard base, Lokoja, have intercepted 37- year- old Aliyu Lawal along Lokoja- Abuja road on Monday, April 8. They further recovered 620 blocks of cannabis weighing 310kg from him, while 10 sacks of the same psychoactive substance Suspects weighing 98kg were seized along Okene- Lokoja- Abuja express way from Jama Obodo, 44, in a commercial bus coming from Ilesha, Osun State enroute Taraba State on Wednesday, April 10.

In Cross River State, a 40- yearold widow and mother of two, Mrs. Theodora Ita was on Monday, April 8, arrested at Bassey Edom, Calabar , by NDLEA operatives for producing and selling a lethal new psychoactive substance, NPS, locally called ‘ Combine’, which is a mixture of different strains of cannabis and opioids soaked in raw gin. Confirming the development, spokesperson for the agency , Femi Babafemi, said at the time of her arrest, 18 litres of the dangerous substance in used paint drums were recovered from her.

In her statement, she claimed she started the illicit drug production and distribution in October 2023. Another suspect, Godwin Okon Samuel, 48, was apprehended at Essit Ebum area of Calabar with 39.4kg of Cannabis sativa on Tuesday, April 9.

While two suspects: Sani Mohammed, 43, and Christopher Eze, 64, were arrested in Sabon Gari area of Kano on Tuesday, April 9, with 900,000 pills of opioid recovered from them. NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri- Onitsha road, Imo State on Friday, April 12, intercepted a logistics truck with registration number JGB 403XB and recovered 230 blocks of Cannabis sativa weighing 119kg hidden under household items after a thorough search.

At least 252 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized during a raid at Ijesa Isu forest, Ekiti state on Saturday, April 13, while four suspects: Adamu Umar, 39; Abdullahi A Gimba, 27; Julius Uduakhomu, 28; and Micheal Sunday, 24, were nabbed loading 40kg of same substance to the engine compartment of a gas truck at Agho village, Owan East, Edo State.

Two motorcycles used in conveying the consignment to where the gas truck heading to the North was parked, were also recovered.

In Ogun State, a suspect, Ismaila Ogun was arrested on Friday, April 12, with 79kg cannabis at Imeko, while 18year- old Friday Abah was nabbed with 410kg of the same substance when NDLEA operatives raided Obatedo camp, Itaogbolu forest, Akure North Local Council of Ondo State.

With the same zeal, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse ( WADA), advocacy campaign in the past week.