By Uche Amunike
In a massive raid carried out by officers of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Aba, Abia State, cocaine and metamohetamine worth over N4bn were seized, even as the drug baron and his sister who were in charge of the cartel were also arrested.
Speaking, through a statement signed and released by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the raid was carried out on June 13 and 14 and the the names of the arrested siblings are Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi (49) and Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi (50). They were found with 20.76kg of cocaine and methamphetamine.
The statement read: ‘A cartel controlled by a drug baron, 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi and his 50-year-old elder sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi, has been taken down by officers of the Special Operation Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, following the arrest of the siblings and seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine consignments worth over N4.1billion in street value from their hideout in Aba, Abia state.’
‘The special operation conducted on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th June, 2024 at 3B, Boundary Avenue, Aba and a residence along Ohia road, Ohia, Abia State followed months of intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest of the ring leaders and the combined seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from them.’
Relatively, the NDLEA operatives also carried out a crackdown at a warehouse in Lagos, fully stocked with codeine-based syrup. They also arrested four suspects who are connected to the importation and distribution of the substance.
The statement further explained: ‘In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Lagos state have uncovered an expansive warehouse stocked with a large consignment of codeine-based syrup, located at Comfort Oboh area of Kirikiri, where four persons connected with the importation and distribution of the opioid were arrested during an intelligence-led raid on the facility.’
‘Those arrested include: Kingsley Amanambu Obumneke, 38; Emeka Emmanuel, 48; Bornaventure Ugochukwu, 59; and Martin Dike, 56, while a total of 82,000 bottles of the opioid worth more than N600million in street value, Toyota Tacuma truck and two buses used for distributing the substance were recovered from the premises on Monday 10th June 2024 when NDLEA officers conducted the operation.’
‘Two days after, Wednesday 12th June, operatives intercepted another suspect, Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 3.9 litres of codeine syrup at Alaba Suru, Ojo local council area of the state.’
In Ogun State, the NDLEA also arrested three suspects during a raid on June 10 and seized 390kg of Cannabis. The three suspects are Muhammad Sani, Samaila Rabe and Nura Mohammad.
A skuchies factory was also busted in Shagamu by the NDLEA, where they not only arrested seven suspects, but also, recovered various drugs and equipment from them. They include: Kareem Jamiu; Oriyimi Ayo; Bamidele Wasiu; Rasheed Olarewanju; Ramota Lawal; Amudalat Olarewanju; and Adeniyi Omotosho.’
‘Exhibits recovered from them include: 387 litres of skuchies; 70 litres of industrial codeine; 25kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, rophynol, diazepam, as well as various equipment used in the production of the new psychoactive substance.’09:59
