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NDLEA Intercepts US, Europe-Bound Drugs Concealed In Shoe Soles, N16.6bn Opioids At Seaports, Reject N10m Bribe

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted hard drugs concealed in shoe soles and hair attachments destined for the United States and Europe.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, announced this in a statement on Sunday. The consignments were seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.

“A total of 2,118 pills of tramadol concealed in soles of 13 pairs of shoes going to Cyprus were seized at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 12th October 2024 and additional 380 tablets recovered from the home of the sender, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna during a follow up operation in Enugu on Thursday 24th October. A cash of N968,880 and a Toyota Avalon car marked UWN 389 AS, were also recovered from the suspect at the time of his arrest,” he said.

“Not less than 293 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injection as well as 1.690kg cannabis and tramadol tablets concealed in hair attachments and soles of shoes going to the United States, United Kingdom and Oman were intercepted at three courier firms by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in Lagos on Thursday 24th October.

“In the same vein, a total of Twenty Six Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand (26,250,000) pills of tramadol as well as Five Hundred and Eight Thousand Four Hundred (508,400) bottles of codeine based syrup worth Sixteen Billion Six Hundred and Eighty Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N16, 683, 800,000) in street value were intercepted by NDLEA operatives during 100 percent joint examination of watch-listed containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan port in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers state between Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October.”

See the full statement below:

NDLEA intercepts US, Europe-bound drugs in shoe soles, N16.6b opioids at seaports

Recovers 2,760kg illicit consignments in Lagos shrine, underground storage in Lekki

Consignments of opioids concealed in soles of shoes and hair attachments heading to the United States, United Kingdom and Cyprus have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and three courier companies in the state.

A total of 2,118 pills of tramadol concealed in soles of 13 pairs of shoes going to Cyprus were seized at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 12th October 2024 and additional 380 tablets recovered from the home of the sender, Okenwa Kelvin Uchenna during a follow up operation in Enugu on Thursday 24th October. A cash of N968,880 and a Toyota Avalon car marked UWN 389 AS, were also recovered from the suspect at the time of his arrest.

Not less than 293 ampoules of promethazine and pentazocine injection as well as 1.690kg cannabis and tramadol tablets concealed in hair attachments and soles of shoes going to the United States, United Kingdom and Oman were intercepted at three courier firms by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in Lagos on Thursday 24th October.

In the same vein, a total of Twenty Six Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand (26,250,000) pills of tramadol as well as Five Hundred and Eight Thousand Four Hundred (508,400) bottles of codeine-based syrup worth Sixteen Billion Six Hundred and Eighty Three Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N16, 683, 800,000) in street value were intercepted by NDLEA operatives during 100 percent joint examination of watch-listed containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan port in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers state between Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd October.

Other illicit consignments intercepted during the joint inspection of the containers include 10 million tablets of Toradol Benzhexol and 28 plastic drums of methamphetamine weighing 700kg at Tincan and Onne respectively, while 56 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 28kg were also recovered from a container that arrived the Lagos port from Canada. A suspect, Tsolaye Eburajolo, 40, was arrested at Ago Palace area of Okota Lagos in connection with the cannabis seizure while a bribe of N10million paid NDLEA officers to free the suspect has been kept as part of the exhibits for the prosecution of the case.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday 25th October raided the Igbo – Igunuko shrine, located at the Alfa Beach, Ajah, where jumbo bags of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,760kg were recovered and two suspects: Gbenga Abiodun and Sunday Abiodun arrested. Another suspect, Ademola Oyelakin was also arrested same day with 770kg of the same psychoactive substance along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

A total of 11,786 pills of tramadol, molly, rohypnol and diazepam as well as 64 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered from the underground storage a suspect, Muhammad Warnos Abdullahi dug in his bedroom at Marwa Coastal road, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos when NDLEA officers raided his home on Friday 25th October. The suspect dug the illicit drug storage deep in his room, covered it with padlocked iron slate, a rug and then put his mattress on top to avoid detection.

In Plateau, a suspect Fadan Bindom, 39, was arrested at Pilgani village in possession of 65.85kg cannabis and 18 grams of tramadol, while another suspect Sunday Agbata, 42, was nabbed at Pavwei – Rayfield Jos South LGA with 5,830 tablets and ampoules of bromazepam, diazepam and pentazocine injection on Wednesday 23rd October.

A major distributor of illicit drugs in FCT Abuja, Umar Muhammed, 40, was on Monday 21st October nabbed following the earlier seizure of a consignment of 198.5kg cannabis linked to him at Wuse market park.

In Edo state, NDLEA operatives recovered 640kg cannabis concealed in 80 jumbo bags of fresh vegetables at Ewu junction, Irrua, Esan Central LGA and arrested a suspect, Austin Oruamen, 27, while another suspect Adereti Kazeem, 35, was nabbed with 200 blocks of cannabis weighing 133kg at Obalayan, Ile-Ife, Osun state on Thursday 24th October.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto; St. Mary College, Awka, Anambra state; Prime Rose Model Private College, Saki, Oyo state; Community Model Arabic College, Malumfashi, Katsina state; Community Junior Secondary School, Rumuomasi, Rivers state; and WADA advocacy lecture to Rugar Alhaji Manu Unguwan Sullubawa, Gombi, Adamawa state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, PHPC, Lagos, FCT, Osun, Plateau and Edo Commands of the Agency as well as those of DOGI for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Sunday 27th October 2024

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BIG STORY

Northern Leaders Not Against Tinubu, We Only Oppose Proposed VAT Sharing Formula — Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule

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32 mins ago

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October 30, 2024

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Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa, has clarified that northern leaders are not opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Sule explained that the northern governors’ objection is solely directed at the proposed change to the value-added tax (VAT) sharing formula.

On Sunday, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), representing 19 northern states, formally rejected the proposed tax amendment bill.

In a communiqué issued after their meeting, the northern governors expressed their disapproval of shifting VAT distribution to a derivation-based model, arguing that such a change would be unfavorable to the northern region.

“This is because companies remit VAT using the location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed,” the northern governors had said.

On October 13, President Bola Tinubu asked the national assembly to consider and pass four tax reform bills.

The proposed legislations are the Nigeria tax bill, tax administration bill, and joint revenue board establishment bill.

The Nasarawa governor said the northern leaders would not oppose the administration of Tinubu after working hard for his victory in the election.

He added that the proposed legislation on the sharing formula of VAT based on the derivation model is “unfair” to the north.

“The issue of VAT was the last item that was discussed during the meeting of northern leaders,” Sule said.

“After discussing various issues on mining and agriculture, the last issue was the issue of VAT.

“When the news came out, people were saying, ‘why are the governors of the north against President Tinubu?’.

“We cannot bring President Tinubu as president; the north came in heavily to make sure Tinubu became president and then turned around to be against him.

“We started the meeting by commending him (Tinubu) on so many initiatives, including the livestock initiative.

“It is a forum (northern) made up of APC and PDP members alongside other parties, including those with no party — the traditional rulers. We sat together and decided that the law was going to be unfair to the north.

“We have no problem whatsoever, even though it is another hardship to the people (plan to increase VAT to 10 percent).

“Nobody is against any initiative. Nobody is worried that VAT is being raised to so and so percentage. We are talking about the sharing formula of the VAT.

“I think whether we are APC, PDP, APGA, or whatever party, we have a right to say we agree with this or disagree. It has nothing to do with disliking anybody.”

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BIG STORY

RCCG Asks People With Evidence Of ‘Sexual Misconduct’ Against Suspended Pastors To Come Forward

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39 mins ago

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October 30, 2024

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The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has called on the public with relevant evidence against its pastors accused of homosexuality to present them for investigation.

In a memo dated October 28, 2024, the church announced the indefinite suspension of two youth ministers pending the outcome of the investigations against them.

The memo, signed by Sunday Akande, RCCG’s national overseer, ordered a thorough investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations.

Akande emphasized that the church’s doctrine does not tolerate or allow any act of homosexuality, citing biblical references.

In a statement, according to ChurchTimes, the RCCG urged people with relevant evidence against the pastors to come forward.

The church also provided an email address ([email protected]) and phone number (09039000700) for submitting information. It emphasized that only substantiated evidence will be reviewed.

Ayorinde AdeBello, one of the accused pastors, earlier denied the allegation of homosexuality.

He said he has never engaged in sodomy with male teenagers.

The pastor said his prolonged silence was misconstrued as an “admission of guilt”, prompting his response.

AdeBello also clarified that a viral WhatsApp screenshot being circulated was misquoted and taken out of context.

He claimed the conversation was actually about male reproductive health and self-esteem within a teenagers’ WhatsApp group.

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BIG STORY

Marketers Refusing To Lift Our Fuel, We Have 500m Litres Enough To Serve Nigerians For 12 Days — Dangote

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1 hour ago

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October 30, 2024

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Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, expressed surprise over ongoing fuel shortages, given his company’s refinery’s capacity to meet domestic demand. Speaking to State House journalists on Tuesday, Dangote revealed that the refinery has produced a surplus of 500 million liters of petrol that retailers have yet to purchase.

The billionaire businessman made these comments following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and the Implementation Committee on the Sale of Crude and Refined Petroleum Products. He questioned the rationale behind the persistent fuel scarcity despite the ample supply.

“We have enough supply of crude; we can produce much more than 30 million litres every day. At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed.

“As we speak today, we have 500 million litres in our tanks. With 500 million litres in our tanks. This can take the country for more than 12 days with no imports or production; so, we are very ready.

“And you know, I’m also putting my name on the line by giving Mr President my word that, yes, we will be able to supply the market minimum of 30 million per day, and we’ll be ramping up production. So, we’re ready. We’re more than ready.

Speaking further on the shortages and long queues at the filling stations, the African richest man, said that marketers were not coming forward to lift fuel from his refinery.

“One thing that you have to understand is that we are producers. I have a refinery. I’m not in the business of retail. If I’m in the business of retail then you hold me responsible. But what I’m saying is that the retailers should please come forward and pick, if they don’t come forward and pick, what do you want me to do?

“So, I don’t expect either the NNPC or the marketers to stop importing, but the truth is that they should come and pick because we have what they need. And you know, as they remove, I will be pumping. I don’t know whether you understand what it takes to keep half a billion litres inside our tank.

“It’s costing me money every day. If I can collect the naira, I can actually charge somebody 32 percent in interest. Right now, that’s what I’m losing. And we’re talking about 500 million litres, you know, I mean, we don’t print money.

“But the issue is that if they come and collect the product, then you will not see any queues in the filling stations.

“We have what it takes for them to come and collect. We are not retailers. We also don’t have trucks to send the products to the filling stations.

“We have a factory; we have where they can load. They should come and pick what we have… they have been doing that with importation. So, if they’ve been doing that with importation, if it’s true, they are doing 55 million litres, I see no reason why they won’t come and collect our own and distribute”, Dangote said.

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