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PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a India-bound passenger, Freeman Ogbonna, for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

He was arrested at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

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The suspect was arrested on last Sunday while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian passport bearing the name: Carr Bismark.

This was made known in a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

The statement said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, at the screening point of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.

“Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday, March 31, while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name: Carr Bismark.

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PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

READ ALSO: NDLEA Intercepts Qatar-bound Drugs, Officers Reject N5m Bribe

He was taken for a body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.

“Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort.

PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

“Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.

‘The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.

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“The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Seizes 44,948kg Drugs, Vehicles In Lagos, Edo, Ondo Raids

“In the same vein, NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport on Wednesday, April 3 intercepted a drug mule, Imran Taofeek Olalekan, at Gate C Departure of Terminal 1 travelling to Oman with a check-in luggage and a backpack. When his check-in bag and backpack were subjected to thorough search, the operatives discovered a false bottom concealment of drugs in the check-in luggage and in the walls of the backpack.

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PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

“The NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport. He was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, who recruited the trafficker.

“Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport. :He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivers the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola, was to be paid N200,000.

“Curiously, when the two bags were completely unpacked at the NDLEA office, a charm was found in one of the bags while another one was found on the drug mule who confessed that he traveled to Ibadan, Oyo state to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.

“Another charm was also found on the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan, who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.”

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PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

READ ALSO: NDLEA Secures Conviction Of 67 Drug Traffickers In Edo

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1,072kg on April 3.

The seizure occurred during a joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders of a container originating from Toronto, Canada. The drugs were concealed in various items such as used vehicles, engines, household goods, and big drums.

In Kano, a 48-year-old suspect, Gidado Sani, who had previously jumped bail, was re-arrested on April 5 in the Sharada area with 85 blocks of cannabis weighing 50.1kg. Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Ogun state arrested Wasiu Jimoh on April 4 with 84 parcels (62kg) of cannabis sativa during a raid operation at Ilese Awo.

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PICTORIAL: NDLEA Arrests India-bound Passenger For Ingesting 80 Wraps Of Cocaine

Operatives in Lagos intercepted Emeka Umeh with 506.2kg of cannabis at Igbede, Ojo area on April 3, and Victor Okeke was apprehended on April 5 at Igbo Elerin, Ojo, with 142grams of cannabis sativa and 175 litres of skuchies.

Furthermore, a smuggling attempt by Ifeanyi Udogwu to transport 1.5kg of cocaine concealed in music speakers was thwarted on April 3 by NDLEA officers collaborating with Young Shall Grow Motors in Aba, Abia State.

 

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Metro

Police Foil Robbery, Recover Weapons In Enugu

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The Enugu Police command has foiled a robbery attempt, neutralised one suspect, and recovered firearms, ammunition, and other exhibits from the crime scene.

The Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed in a statement on Friday that the incident happened around 4:10 a.m. on Aug. 6 in Enugu.

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Ndukwe stated that a distress call alerted the Independence Layout Police Division to a robbery in progress at Premier Layout, Enugu.

Responding swiftly, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised police operatives and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group to the scene.

READ ALSO:21 Die As Bus Carrying Mourners Crashes In Kenya

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On sighting the operatives, the gang opened fire. The team returned fire, killing one suspect. Others escaped. The dead suspect’s identity is unknown.

A search of the area and the suspect’s body yielded a cut-to-size locally made single-barrel gun and one live cartridge.

Also recovered were a locally fabricated Beretta pistol, one live round of ammunition, and a Nokia torch-button phone belonging to the suspect.

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Other items included two iPhones belonging to victims, a red-and-black torchlight, a small red bag, and ₦9,000 in ₦1,000 notes.

READ ALSO:Enugu Court Remands Ritualist, Two Others, For Kidnapping, Murder

Ndukwe added that further investigations on Friday led to the recovery of a pump-action gun with four live cartridges.

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The weapon was found abandoned near the scene and is believed to have been left by fleeing gang members.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, praised the operatives’ bravery and professionalism during the operation.

READ ALSO:Man Jailed Seven Years For N11.4m Enugu Land Fraud

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He reaffirmed the command’s determination to tackle violent crime and maintain public safety across Enugu State.

He urged residents to stay alert and share credible information to support proactive policing efforts in their communities.

Residents should report incidents to the nearest station, call 08032003702 or 08086671202, or contact the Command Centre via 112.

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Courts Jail Six For Fraud, Order ₦2.8m Restitution To Victims

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Justices H.H. Kereng and Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Courts 2 and 3, sitting in Gombe, have convicted and sentenced six men to various jail terms for fraud.

The convicts, Maigari Abba, Joseph Samuel Bulus, Kasheaure Joseph, Emmanuel Dilibe, Livite Ibrahim, and Awolowo Martins, were jailed on Wednesday, after being arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on breach of trust, cheating, and impersonation by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

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This is contained in a statement by the EFCC on Friday, noting the convicts’ arrest followed intelligence on their activities, after which they were apprehended and prosecuted.

READ ALSO:Court Jails Woman For N1.3m Fraud In Maiduguri

One of the charges against Bulus reads,”That you, Joseph Samuel Bulus, sometimes between 2024 and 2025, at Gombe, Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly impersonate one Peter Elis, by pretending to be a former Kings Guard in the UK, creating and operating fake Facebook and TikTok accounts and luring unsuspecting individuals to deliver money to you (mostly via gift cards) and in the process gained to your advantage the sum of $1,500 (One thousand Five Hundred Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to 321 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.”

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Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsel S.E. Okemini and A.B. Kware to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsel, however, pleaded for leniency.

Justice Kereng sentenced Abba to six months in prison or a fine of ₦60,000, while Martins bagged six months or a fine of ₦50,000.

READ ALSO:Accountant Jailed 15 Years For Defrauding Oyo Job Applicants

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Justice Yakubu handed Bulus, Joseph, Dilibe, and Ibrahim 24 months’ imprisonment each, with an option of ₦50,000 fine.

The courts also ruled that the ₦2.8 million recovered during investigation, being proceeds of crime, should be used to restitute the victims.

It was stated that One laptop and five mobile phones seized at arrest were forfeited to the Federal Government.
(PUNCH)

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Bandits Kill Pastor, Two Others In Fresh Plateau Attack

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Bandits have again struck Suwa and Ding’ak villages in the Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, and killed three persons, including a pastor.

It was learnt that the attack occurred between 1pm and 2pm on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

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The Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday night.

Mallai identified the victims as Pastor Gideon Katings of COCIN Suwa, Sunday Ringkang, and Meshach Bukata.

READ ALSO:FG Gives Overstaying Foreigners Ultimatum To Regularise Visa

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He added that one Michael Kamshak and several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital, Bokkos.

Mallai also confirmed that hundreds of residents had been displaced due to the attack.

Mallai said, “Between 1:00 hours and 2:00 today, Friday, 8th August 2025, Suwa and Ding’ak villages in Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos LGA were attacked by terrorists leading to the untimely death of three including Pst Gideon Katings of COCIN Suwa, Sunday Ringkang, and Meshach Bukata; while Michael Kamshak and others were injured and currently receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital Bokkos.

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“Several residents in their hundreds have been displaced.”

READ ALSO:Horror As Enugu Pastor Kills Four Siblings

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not readily available when contacted by our correspondent, as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

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The killings on Friday is the latest in a series of violent attacks experienced in Bokkos and surrounding areas.

In recent times, the council area has faced heightened insecurity, with more than 20 villagers killed in separate attacks in the last month and properties destroyed.

READ ALSO:Wanted Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Dan Mudale, Police Officer, Six Others Killed In Zamfara

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The chairman of Bokkos LGA, Amalau Samuel Amalau, had called on security agencies to take decisive action against these militias, citing the need to protect innocent lives and prevent further displacement.

The state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has equally condemned the attacks, describing them as “genocide” and “a coordinated attempt at land grabbing.”

The governor has vowed to work with security agencies to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of residents.

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