The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Sunday that it has intercepted a total of 52 pieces of travelers’ cheques concealed in children’s books worth $17.7 17.7million.

The cheques, according to a statement issued by the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in Abuja, were en route to Malaysia through Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight.

Babafemi, however, stated that NDLEA operatives intercepted the cheques at the airport’s export shed on July 4.

He stated that the interdiction operation, which took place at Lagos airport, resulted in the arrest of a freight agent in connection with the intercepted travelers’ cheques.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Saudi, UK-bound Cocaine In Lipsticks, Property Title Documents

“The travelers cheques suspected to be counterfeit and the suspect will soon be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation,” he said.

He said that on July 5, NDLEA officers at the Seme border recovered 718 big balls of skunk weighing 359 kg from a store in the Baba–Pupa area of the border community.

Operatives on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja highway intercepted 10,000 pills of tramadol 225mg and co-codamol as well as 1.050kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

This, he said, led to the arrest of owners of the way-billed drug consignments at Jabi Park in Abuja during a follow-up operation.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Seizes 91.768kg Of Cannabis Sativa, Psychotropic Substances In Ebonyi

Babafemi said in another development in Osun, two suspects were arrested at the Ajegunle area of Osogbo on July 3 with 13,901 pills and ampoules of different opioids recovered from them.

He said that another suspect was nabbed at a patent medicine shop at Arubidi Street, Ile-Ife, with 48,205 pills of opioids.

“A raid on a vulcaniser workshop at Akindeko junction, Alekuwodo area of Osogbo on Tuesday, July 1, led to the arrest of three suspects.

“They were arrested with 1,250 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 850 pills of tramadol and three bottles of codeine-based syrup.”

READ ALSO:NDLEA Destroys 77,000kg Of Skunk Farms In Cross River, Edo

The spokesman stated that the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) and social advocacy activities by the NDLEA commands continued across the country equally in the past week.

“Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture delivered to students and staff of Queen of Angel Secondary School, Mgbidi, Awgu, Enugu state, Divine Purpose College, Eyita, Ikorodu, Lagos.

“Others are Al-Furqan College, Kankia, Katsina and residents of Gomari Binta Suga community, Maiduguri, Borno state, among others.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed 24,175 kilograms of skunk on 9.67 hectares of cannabis farmland at Ikaka, Oke-Ila forest, Osun.

The Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, stated this in a press release on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives had raided the area where seven suspects were arrested on July 3.
In another development, in Borno, 167kg of skunk was recovered at Gamboru-Ngala, while a total of 452 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance was seized at Gadar Tamburawa in Kano.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Saudi, UK-bound Cocaine In Lipsticks, Property Title Documents

Babafemi said that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure on July 3.

He said NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway recovered 11,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from a suspect. In comparison, their counterparts in Sokoto arrested a 62-year-old in connection with the seizure of 4,800 pills of tramadol 225mg.

“In Kebbi state, operatives raided Bakin Kasuwa Yauri base, where they seized 312 kg of skunk and 10,000 tabs of diazepam. At the same time, two suspects were also arrested with 49,930 capsules of tramadol in Taraba state.

“In Edo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Ewere forest in Owan West LGA where they arrested a wanted suspect, Alaba Monday, 49, in one of his cannabis farms with 115 kg of processed skunk.”

He stated that three other suspects were apprehended on another farm, which measures 2.050201 hectares.

According to him, a 78-year-old suspect was arrested with 14.49kg of skunk and tramadol during a raid by NDLEA operatives at Ofudua, Obubra LGA, Cross River. In contrast, three other suspects were nabbed at Ovonum, Obubra LGA.

…six bodies recovered, three still missing

A tragic gunboat mishap has claimed the lives of six personnel attached to the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, who had earlier defied heavy rains to deliver a free medical outreach in Okerenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

The unfortunate Navy boat mishap occurred on Thursday evening, shortly after the team had concluded the first day of a two-day humanitarian exercise in the riverside community.

Nigerian Tribune correspondent, who accompanied the naval medical team from Warri Naval Base on Thursday morning for the two-day free health rhapsody, gathered that at about 7:45 pm the same day, the naval gunboat—EPENAL Gunboat DE 24 — capsized at position LAT 05° 36.408’N / LONG 005° 11.982’E, directly in front of Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL).

The vessel was reportedly conveying 15 people — nine serving Navy personnel and six civilians, including NYSC members—from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos to their hotel accommodation in Arunton community when it sank.

READ ALSO: Six Passengers Dead In Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued

It was gathered that the Nigerian Navy’s swift search and rescue team recovered 12 individuals from the waters, who were rushed to the CNL clinic.

Tragically, six, out of whom three are serving naval personnel and three are civilians, were confirmed dead by the attending Chief Medical Officer on duty.

As of Friday morning, divers had recovered the bodies of the following victims: Commander JO Eidangbe, Petty Officer Abolarinwa, Ordinary Seaman Tena, Miss Chinenye (National Youth Service Corps member), Miss Dorcas (NYSC member) and Master Destiny (boat driver).

Three persons: Lieutenant DK Nehemiah, Sub-Lieutenant Kwala, and Miss Uche (another corps member)—remained missing as of the time of filing this report, with rescue efforts still ongoing.

The Commander of the NNS, Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu, has yet to issue an official statement on the tragedy.

READ ALSO:Navy Rescues 99 In Rivers Boat Mishap

The naval medical team had earlier, on Thursday, been received warmly at Okerenkoko community hall, Gbaramatu Kingdom, where the Commander of NNS Delta, Commodore Abdulazeez Zubairu (represented by Navy Captain Ayi Archibong, Executive Officer NNS Delta), had reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to national security and community engagement.

“The Nigerian Navy has the constitutional responsibility to ensure security across the country’s maritime environment. To fulfil this mandate, the Navy engages in Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities aimed at building strong and positive relationships with the public,” Commodore Zubairu had noted.

The free medical outreach—held in collaboration with EMT Foundation—was part of the Navy’s non-kinetic strategy under Operation Delta Sanity II, as directed by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.

It aimed to deliver essential healthcare to remote communities in Delta’s creeks, many of whom are cut off from regular medical services.

READ ALSO: Seven Die, 23 Rescued In Greece Boat Accident

“The Medical Rhapsody brings healthcare closer to our host communities, which are critical allies in combating insecurity,” Zubairu stated.

Scores of residents from Okerenkoko and surrounding communities turned up in the rain to benefit from the exercise, which offered check-ups, treatments, prescriptions, and health counselling — all free of charge.

Pastor Christmas Ikare James, Assistant Secretary of the Okerenkoko community, had described the initiative as historic and timely.

“We’re deeply grateful to the Navy. At a time like this when basic healthcare is beyond the reach of many, this outreach means a lot to our people,” he said.

While the outreach was concluded on Friday in spite of the tragedy, the mood across the creek communities has turned sombre as the Navy and community mourn the loss of gallant officers and civilians who died in the line of service.

Details later…