NDLEA goes tough on drug traffickers nationwide, secures prison sentences for offenders
By Adeyanju Esther
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has made significant strides in its fight against drug trafficking with the recent conviction of two notorious drug kingpins, and the apprehension of several individuals involved in drug-related activities across Nigeria.
The journey towards justice began with the arrest of Uwaezuoke Ikenna Christian, a 43-year-old businessman, in March 2022. Uwaezuoke was intercepted at the Abuja International Airport with 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilograms.
Despite being granted bail after pleading not guilty, he absconded, only to be rearrested in August 2023 at the Lagos International Airport under a different identity.
Uwaezuoke attempted to export 1.822 kilograms of cocaine to India. Upon conviction on October 18, 2023, he paid a fine of N1,500,000.00 but was subsequently transferred to Abuja to face charges for the initial offence. Despite pleading guilty, Uwaezuoke was sentenced to life imprisonment on March 20, 2024, for his involvement in the international cocaine trade.
Agbo Chidike Prince, aged 42, faced a similar fate. Arrested in October 2023 at the Abuja International Airport with 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73 grams, Prince pleaded guilty to the charges. Despite the plea for leniency, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 15, 2024, underscoring the severity of drug-related offences.
In a separate incident, NDLEA officers apprehended Yahaya Danjuma Oturah at the Lagos airport on April 26, 2024, attempting to smuggle 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Italy. Oturah confessed to being hired as a courier for a fee of 700 Euros, highlighting the pervasive nature of drug trafficking networks.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives arrested 28-year-old Jennifer Iliya for producing and distributing cannabis-laced cakes. With 1.5 kilograms of the drugged cakes recovered, the arrest underscores the agency’s commitment to tackling drug-related activities at every level.
Additionally, NDLEA operations across Nigeria led to the arrest of individuals involved in the distribution and possession of illicit substances. Notable seizures included pentazocine injection and cannabis in Kaduna and Adamawa states, as well as significant cannabis seizures in Lagos, Kano, and Edo states.
These operations signify the NDLEA’s unwavering dedication to combatting drug trafficking and abuse, safeguarding communities, and upholding the rule of law in Nigeria.
