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NDLEA smashes int’l drug cartel, arrests five

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

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No fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-weeks intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos International Airport.

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A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday said, the unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on 24th April after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.
The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.

Another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra state where NDLEA officers arrested her on 27th April while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.

Two other suspects, Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were also arrested in parts of Lagos on 29th April. Their arrest led to another operation in Abia state where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on stop and search operation along Abuja-Abaji highway on 1st May, intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG and upon a thorough search discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.

The consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo state and meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution. Four suspects, Efe Abel Mikel, Ebigide Cyril, Ejechi Monday and Friday Benson Chukwudi have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

While two suspects, Aminu Umar and Anas Umar were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their house at Unguwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state on 29th April, Bashir Umar was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano on Friday, 3rd May with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Osun state, NDLEA operatives on 1st May arrested an ex-convict, 51-year-old Suleiman Usman who is currently facing trial for another drug offence at the Federal High Court Osogbo. At the time of his latest arrest at Okinni town, Suleiman was found in possession of 4.4grams of Cocaine, 28.5kg of cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of rophynol weighing 6.2grams and 812 pills of tramadol.

The following day, 2nd May, NDLEA operatives at Agbara checkpoint, Seme border, Badagry Lagos intercepted a Toyota camry car marked KJA 825 FT conveying 113 jumbo parcels of cannabis with a total weight of 64kg. The driver, Charles Amoni was promptly arrested.
In Bauchi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on 29th April arrested Clement Chukwuka with 595 bottles of codeine, 38,260 pills of opioids such as tramadol, rohypnol and diazepam, while another suspect, Friday Ibochi was nabbed at NDLEA check point, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue state on 30th April with 66 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg.

In the same vein, 42-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley was arrested with 12kg of same substance at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

The statement also added that, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign in the past week.

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Crime

Police investigations of alleged Russian KGB infiltration of NASS: Senator Natasha reportedly abandons petition

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

The alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency being investigated by the Nigeria Police seems to be a quandary.

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This is because a source close to the Police headquarter said, Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi was invited for interrogation on the heels of petition before it by his colleague, Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

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According to the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan who is currently on six months suspension from the Senate asked the police authority to investigate claim by her counterpart from Kogi west that KGB has infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic processes.

In her petition, she alleged that Senator Karimi shared a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.

In her petition, the embattled female Kogi lawmaker asked the Police not to treat the alarm raised by Senator Karimi with levity, declaring that, “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body.”

It was further revealed that Senator Karimi appeared at Louis Edet, Police headquarter on Monday to state his own side in deference to Police invitation.

Sources at the Police headquarter which described the session with Karimi as “positive with useful disclosure”
as the lawmaker owned up to his post, however revealed that the Force authority were taken aback that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has since distance herself from her petition and subsequently, rebuffed request to appear before the Force headquarter.

“We reached her after the session with Senator Karimi. “We wanted to hear from her too but she has continued to ignore our invitation.

That is disturbing to us because we don’t expect her to suddenly dump a petition with such a sensitive allegation against her colleague and then elope.

“Her excuse was that she is outside the country. But a viral video of her visit to her constituency has since went viral.So, it is difficult to reconcile her claim of being outside the shore of the country with the information available to us.

“We don’t want to meddle in the ongoing intrigues in the Senate. But it will be scandalous for her to try to use the Police to join forces with her against his colleagues.”

Asked what is the possible next line of action, the source said his superior knows what to do with such a petition which he dismissed as frivolous.

Reacting to the Police claim, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan denied that she snubbed invitation to shed light on her petition, insisting that she was never invited of recent by the Police after Senator Karimi’s summon.

She said:”Apart from being invited to adopt my petition, I haven’t been invited.”

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Groups urge Governor Soludo to free detained native doctor, ritualists

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Groups operating under the aegis of the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defend­ers’ Foundation (HURIDE) and Campaign for Democ­racy (CD) South East Zone have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to release ritualists and native doctors in detention.

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The groups said, the Qnambra Governor should use the three years anniversary of his office to release the ritualists who have been in detention in the government house.

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The appeal was contained in a joint statement by the Executive Director of the Human Rights body, CD South East Zonal Chairman Dede Uzor A.Uzor, the groups said he should use their release as a gift to their families in this season and occasion of three years in office.

The group named the native doctors as: Akwa Okuko tiwara Aku in Oba, Eke Hit from Okija and Onyeze Jesus from Nkpor.

The trio were arrested in connection with “spuri­ous and obnoxious social media instigation on our youths” which painted a very bad image for the society.

The group lamented that the native doctors encouraged ostentatious lifestyle and crime, mak­ing our youths to believe that hard work doesn’t pay unless you engaged in unwholesome criminal activities like ‘okeite’ or ‘Awale, yahoo plus’ among other false lifestyles.

It also said “their activ­ities promoted serious in­security and tension in the state with teeming young people turning to such criminal and outlandish lifestyles.

“But since their ar­rest, we believe they have learnt a big lesson”.

The group advised that Soludo should make them sign undertaking with the hope of discontinuing such crude, unethical and diabolical activities in line with the extant laws of the State,” they appealed to the Governor.

HURIDE said Governor Soludo should grant am­nesty to them in the spirit of this successful cele­bration of three years in office, saying that he has done so much to improve the lives of citizens of the State.

CAPITAL POST recalled that the Soludo administration has been clamping on criminal elements amid high number of missing persons believed to be orchestrated by ritualists in the State.

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Ghana’s anti-drug agency nabs Nigerian drug kingpin, Uchechukwu Chima, seizes $2.1m worth of cocaine, heroin

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Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested a drug kingpin of Nigerian origin from the South East , Uchechukwu Chima.

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The commission operatives raided his hideout in Accra.

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Chima, who is 56 years was arrested on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, following the discovery of 192kg of cocaine and 0.42kg of heroin, valued at $2.1 million on the streets.

The acting Director of of Public Affairs and International Relations at NACOC, Francis Amoah speaking on the matter in Accra, confirmed that the substances seized were indeed cocaine and heroin.

Authorities believe Chima has played a significant role in previous drug-related operations in the country.

He said the operation marks a critical success in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in Ghana.

“NACOC remains committed to making the country a hostile environment for drug trade and ensuring the safety of both Ghanaians and the international community.”

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