By Adeyanju Esther
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided a snake-guarded shrine used for storing illicit drugs in Igor community, Benin City, Edo State.
Operatives discovered a large hole in a wall, concealed with wallpapers and fetish objects, used to store various illicit substances including methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona strains of cannabis, totaling 8.743 kilograms.
Two women, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested during the operation on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, after the snake guarding the shrine was neutralised.
Additionally, two men, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, were arrested on Saturday, June 22, during a raid in Usen forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State. The raid resulted in the recovery of 209 kg of cannabis and a motorcycle.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in the Mazamaza area.
The methamphetamine, also known as ice or crystal meth, was concealed in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and hidden inside three loudspeakers. Michael Odiomume, 39, who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was arrested on Wednesday, June 19.
In Abuja, operatives intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck with fake security agency registration at Kiyi village, Kuje area, on Tuesday, June 18. The vehicle, carrying 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 340.8 kg, was procured in Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old man, Francis Omofa, was arrested and admitted to being involved in the illicit drug business for a decade.
Simultaneously, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
These efforts included lectures for students and teachers at St. Peters College, Nibo, Anambra; Apostolic Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State; Immanuel Baptist High School, Oyo Town, Oyo State; Federal Government Science and Technical College, Otukpa, Benue State; and a WADA advocacy lecture for Muslim worshippers in Umuahia, Abia State. Additionally, the NDLEA Command in Enugu State conducted a WADA advocacy visit to the First Lady, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the efforts of the Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands, acknowledging their balance in drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
He urged officers to maintain the offensive against drug cartels and intensify their WADA social advocacy campaign.