NDLEA uncovers N194bn cocaine warehouse in Lagos
…1 Jamaican, 3 drug barons arrested
…It gladdens my heart — Buhari
…Clamping down on drug cartels good for economy, addresses insecurity – Experts
By Moses Adeniyi, Ariemu Ogaga, Seun Ibiyemi
A historic feat swelled the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) hunt for drug cartels and their barons as the anti-drug agency uncovered a compartment warehousing narcotics worth over N194billion in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The development which attracted applause from President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday as the one-off single “highest cocaine seizure,” forms the most alarming discovery — a historic record in the anti-narcotic adventure of the NDLEA in recent times.
This is just as at least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the intelligence operation led by operatives of the agency that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos state.
According to a statement on Monday by the spokesperson, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosing the development, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos State between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.
It was disclosed that preliminary investigation revealed the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.
The statement read partly, “In what appears to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos where 1.8tons (1,855 kilograms) of the illicit drug worth more than Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($278, 250,000) equivalent of about One Hundred and Ninety Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Five Million (N194, 775,000,000) Naira in street value were seized.
“At least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well coordinated and intelligence led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos state.
“Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica. They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the Agency has been trailing since 2018.
“Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.
“While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration, (US-DEA), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the bust is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed,” the statement added.
…It gladdens my heart — Buhari
Moreso, President Buhari who was amazed by the discovery, on Monday, congratulated the Chairman of the NDLEA, on what he said was a very successful operation of the Agency leading to the smashing of an international drug syndicate and recovery of 1,855kilograms of cocaine.
In a telephone call to the Chairman of the anti-narcotics agency from New York where he is attending the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77), President Buhari said that the news of the recovery gladdens his heart.
“I deeply appreciate the work that you have put into the eradication of the drug menace. It gladdens my heart as I continue to follow the successes achieved under your leadership.
“You have demonstrated over and again that choosing you to lead this fight against wicked merchants of death whose sole aim is to endanger and truncate the future of our youth is a very good choice. Please keep up the good work,” a statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina read.
“At a meeting later with members of his delegation, the President said, ‘Buba Marwa is doing well. Two tonnes of cocaine, that’s a haul’” the statement added.
…Clamping down on drug cartels good for economy, addresses insecurity — Expert
Meanwhile, economists have said such discoveries were necessary to curb the negative impacts of insecurity on the economy, harping on the connectivity of proliferation of narcotics to crime and insecurity.
Reacting to the development in a chat with Nigerian NewsDirect on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, said the crackdown is vital to curtail the pressure of insecurity on Nigeria’s economy.
He further commended NDLEA for efforts to rid the country of drug cartels.
“It is affecting the economy because of the effect on youths and insecurity. Some of this character involved in crimes and insecurity are involved in drugs. We must commend the NDLEA for clamping down on drug cartels,” he said.
