NDLEA Nabs 75-Year-Old Grandma, Couples In Drug Raids

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 75-year-old grandmother and two couples in separate operations across Oyo, Lagos, and Ekiti states, with over 1.5 tonnes of illicit drugs recovered.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday that the most striking raid occurred on Saturday, in the Dangote area of Elekara, Oyo Town.

He said that NDLEA operatives recovered 118 jumbo bags containing 1,416kg of skunk concealed under sawdust in the grandma’s house, adding that two other suspects were also arrested.

According to him, the operatives in Lagos on Friday raided the home of a wanted drug dealer in Ogombo, Ajah, and arrested a couple, nine bottles of codeine syrup and 30 grammes of skunk were recovered.

”A swift follow-up operation at the suspect’s wife’s shop in the Patey area of Lagos Island led to the recovery of two additional bottles of codeine, drug paraphernalia, and 42 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 22.5kg from a mini-bus parked in front.

“An attempt by the wife to flush some of the drug exhibits in the toilet during the raid was thwarted by operatives,” Babafemi said.

He disclosed that in Ekiti, another couple wanted in connection with the seizure of 117kg of skunk since March 26 was arrested on June 16, at Oniyo Street, Efon-Alaaye, after months on the run.

Babafemi also explained that NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene/Lokoja Highway in Kogi State on Friday, intercepted a suspect travelling from Lagos to Abuja with 1.030kg of methamphetamine concealed in custard containers.

”In Edo, operatives raided the Khagba Forest, Ikao, Owan East LGA, on Wednesday, June 17, where they destroyed 1,744.075kg of skunk and recovered 169kg of processed substance.

”Another raid at Ebora Camp, Ilushi in Esan South LGA, led to the destruction of 2,424.945kg of cannabis, while a suspect was apprehended with 395kg of skunk in a separate operation.”

He said that the commands and formations of the agency across the country also continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.

”Lectures were held at Orun Community Grammar School, Orun-Ekiti; Government Girls Secondary School, Charanchi, Bichi, Kano and Federal Technical College, Doma, Nasarawa.

”Others include: Tafida Community Secondary School, Zango, Katsina; and Government Technical College, Onitsha, Anambra.”

He said that the Rivers State Command also paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Paramount Ruler of Rumuogba Kingdom, HRH Temple Ejekwu, among others.

Babafemi quoted the NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, as commending officers and men of the Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Kogi, and Edo commands for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa noted that their drug supply reduction efforts were balanced with WADA sensitisation activities, and charged them and their compatriots nationwide not to rest on their laurels.