NDLEA arrests two suspects for selling cannabis-laced chin-chin to students in Bayelsa
…Nabs transport company driver with cannabis stash in Ogun
By Sodiq Adelakun
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu, and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for their involvement in selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social gatherings in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The arrest was made public by NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement released on Sunday, outlining the agency’s weekly operations and the seizure of illicit substances.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA officers conducting patrols in the Opolo area of Yenagoa intercepted Edesemi, the dispatch rider, on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Upon searching him, they discovered 200 grams of chin-chin infused with Cannabis Sativa, which he intended to deliver to a buyer.
Following this interception, a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of Josephine, the hairdresser, who was found to be distributing the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.
The arrest of the two suspects highlights the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to combat the distribution and sale of narcotics in Bayelsa State.
“A search of the salon also led to the recovery of 3.00kg, bringing the total weight of the illicit substance seized from the duo to 3.2kg.
“Investigations reveal that they distribute the chin-chin often laced with cannabis and tramadol to students and at birthday parties. While Edesemi handles the delivery to buyers, Josephine is a major distributor to a wanted suspect who produces the drugged chin-chin.”
The statement further revealed that NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State on Wednesday, March 13, “arrested two wanted suspects – Ajim Samuel (aka Boss), 30, and Davidson Joshua (aka Dantala), 36, while on their way from Onitsha, Anambra State where they had gone to buy a consignment of tramadol containing 14, 428 pills of the opioid which they tucked in the body compartments of their black Honda Civic car marked YLA 623 SL.
“They were nabbed along the Numan-Jalingo road. Also recovered from them were 21 grammes of cannabis and monetary exhibits totalling N19,280.”
The spokesperson for the anti-narcotics agency added that in Osun State, “a 49-year-old commercial bus driver, Ogunleye Adegoke, was arrested along Gbongan-Ibadan road after NDLEA operatives discovered 2,000 capsules of tramadol, 60 tablets of Rohypnol and 10 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in the spare tyre compartment of his vehicle.
“Meanwhile, a total of 343,000 pills of opioids were seized by NDLEA officers from a suspect, Lawan Abubakar, 33, in Azare town, Katagum, Bauchi State on Friday, March 15, as the Nigerian Army transferred a suspect, Muhammadu Rabi’u, 37, with 64,000 pills of tramadol recovered from him to the Bauchi State command of the NDLEA on the same day.”
Babafemi added that “at least, 24kg of cannabis was seized from the driver of a transport company, Ikechukwu Obialo, at Sagamu Interchange, Ogun state by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, March 13, while in Kano, two suspects: Ali Amadu, 27, and Adamu Hassan, 33, were nabbed with a total of 125.3kg cannabis; 3,400 pills of tramadol; and 30 bottles of codeine syrup.
“They were arrested on Monday, March 11, at Gadar Tamburawa area, and Friday, March 15, at Tsamiya Babba, Hotoro, respectively.
“While 118 kilograms of cannabis were recovered from a warehouse in Masaka area of Nasarawa state on Saturday, March 16, NDLEA operatives in Edo state on Thursday, March 14, arrested a suspect, Kole Samuel, 50, with 75kg of same psychoactive substance at market area, Otuo, Owan East LGA. Same day, operatives raided the Oloma-Okpe forest in Akoko Edo LGA, where they destroyed 3,944.2075 kilograms of cannabis on 1.577683 hectares of farmland,” the statement read.
