In a significant crackdown, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided a shrine in the Igor community of Benin City, Edo State, which was being used to store illicit drugs.
During the operation, a specially constructed large hole in the wall, covered with wallpapers and guarded by fetish objects and a snake, was discovered.
The shrine contained 8.743 kilograms of various illicit substances, including methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona, all potent strains of cannabis.
The intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, led to the arrest of two women, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, after the shrine’s black snake guardian was neutralized.
Additionally, on Saturday, June 22, NDLEA operatives arrested two more suspects, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, in Usen forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, where 209 kilograms of cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.
In a related development, NDLEA officers in Lagos intercepted an 8.2-kilogram consignment of methamphetamine at a motor park in the Mazamaza area of Ojo.
The highly addictive substance, also known as ice or crystal meth, was concealed in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and hidden inside three loudspeaker casings. Michael Odiomume, 39, was arrested on Wednesday, June 19, while attempting to send the consignment to Owerri, Imo State.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup with amber lights and a fake security agency registration number at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT.
The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8 kilograms, procured from Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr. Francis Omofa, was arrested in connection with the consignment and admitted to being involved in the illicit drug trade for a decade.
In parallel with these enforcement actions, NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continues across the country.
Recent sensitization activities included lectures at St. Peters College in Nibo, Anambra State; Apostolic Grammar School in Ilesa, Osun State; Immanuel Baptist High School in Oyo town, Oyo State; Federal Government Science and Technical College in Otukpa, Benue State; a WADA advocacy lecture during Juma’at prayer in Umuahia, Abia State; and a WADA advocacy visit to the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the officers and men of the Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands for their balanced efforts in drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction. He urged them to maintain the momentum in their offensive against drug cartels and to continue intensifying the WADA social advocacy campaign.
