During an interdiction operation in Lagos, Adamawa, and Osun states, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported that they successfully busted and seized a total of 4,560 kilograms of skunk.
Continuing their relentless pursuit against drug syndicates, the NDLEA operatives carried out a raid on a skucchies factory in Ogun state, resulting in the capture of four members. Among the arrested were two church officials, a female staff member of a courier company, and another lady, all implicated in the trafficking of the dangerous opioid, fentanyl, in Delta state.
Femi Babafemi’s spokesman said, ‘The bust of the fentanyl cartel operating from Warri, Delta state is coming barely a month after two members of another syndicate: Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma were arrested at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra State.’
The operation’s success is credited to the meticulous intelligence-led investigation conducted over several months, targeting the syndicates involved in the trafficking of the lethal drug.
Fentanyl, known for its potency surpassing heroin by 100 times, has resulted in over 70% of overdose deaths and is a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the United States.
Two officials from Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries, Adewale Abayomi Ayeni, 39, and Ebipakebina Appeal, 41, were apprehended in Warri, Delta state, owing to their alleged involvement in two intercepted shipments of illicit drugs.
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‘While Ayeni is one of those managing the prayer call centre of the church, Ebipakebina is in charge of movement of international guests from the airport to the church.’
Further progress in the investigation of the intercepted shipments led to the arrest of two female accomplices in Warri. Naomi David, 28, employed by United Parcel Services (UPS), and Stacy Njideka, also known as Nkiruka, 27, who has ties to Ayeni, were both detained.
In a successful operation on Wednesday, July 5th, the Agency’s operatives intercepted a Toyota Hilux vehicle with the registration number EPE 863 XD. The interception took place along Ngurore-Mayo Belwa road in Adamawa State.
Upon conducting a search of the van, which had two occupants named Kelvin Efe, aged 51, and Christian Ogaga, aged 42, it was discovered that 118 cartons of Indomie Noodles packs were used to conceal 544 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa. The hidden drugs, weighing a total of 408kg, were found in a false compartment of the vehicle. The seized narcotics were intended for distribution in Yola, Mubi, and Gombe.
In an operation conducted in Lagos on Saturday, July 1st, NDLEA operatives successfully arrested a suspect named Segun Odeyemi. The suspect was intercepted in the Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki, while transporting 89 jumbo bags of skunk weighing a total of 3,842kg.
A noteworthy discovery was also made by NDLEA officers on Friday, July 7th, in Osun State along the Akure-Ilesa expressway. An abandoned J5 Peugeot bus bearing the registration number AAA 521 SQ was found to be carrying concealed contraband. Bags of fresh pepper were used to hide 25 bags of cannabis sativa, weighing a total of 300.5kg. The occupants of the bus fled the scene upon noticing the presence of the officers.
On Thursday, July 6th, NDLEA operatives conducted a raid on a skucchies factory located at Ajaka Sagamu in Ogun State. During the operation, a suspect named Adekunle Adekola was apprehended.
The premises of the skucchies factory in Ajaka Sagamu, Ogun State, yielded several exhibits during the raid. Among them were 10kg of cannabis, 1,356 litres of skucchies, 20 litres of codeine, seven deep freezers, a set of Firman generator, and two gas cylinders, alongside other items.
Expressing his admiration for the ongoing operations against the fentanyl opioid syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the dedicated team of NDLEA officers for their success thus far.
He also acknowledged the efforts of their counterparts in Adamawa, Lagos, Osun, and Ogun, applauding the arrests made and seizures conducted over the past week.
He urged upon them and their compatriots nationwide to maintain their unwavering focus on the mission of eliminating substance abuse and the illegal trade of drugs.