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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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JUST IN: Benue, Plateau Attacks: DSS Arraigns Nine Prime Suspects

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The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned nine prime suspects in connection with the recent killings in Benue and Plateau States.

Channels Television reports that the DSS also charged a suspected gunrunner arrested with Seven M16 rifles.

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The nine suspects were being accused of complicity in recent deadly attacks in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, as well as in parts of Plateau State.

READ ALSO: DSS Charges Nine Over Benue, Plateau Massacres

More to follow…

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Vietnam Returnee Stabbed To Death In Abia

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A Vietnam–based Nigerian, Samson Nwaubani, has been killed in a communal clash between the Okwu and Umuajata communities in Umuahia, Abia State.

According to The PUNCH, the incident occurred on Tuesday, August 27, during the annual New Yam festival held in Olokoro, where both communities are located.

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It was gathered that tension had built up before the festival after a confrontation between a resident of Umuajata and another from Okwu degenerated into a fight.

The crisis reportedly escalated when youths from Okwu allegedly stormed the Umuajata community and destroyed some properties.

On the day of the New Yam festival, Samson and some Okwu youths were said to have passed through Umuajata while en route to the celebration grounds.

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READ ALSO:Man Stabs Colleague To Death In Lagos Over Money Dispute

A source privy to the incident told our correspondent on Sunday that they were ambushed by suspected Umuajata youths, thereby resulting in a violent clash.

The source said Samson was stabbed in the process, after which he slumped and died on the spot.

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The New Yam festival holds in phases, and the one held last Tuesday was ongoing when a fight broke out between youths around the Umuajata area. We were later told that Samson and some men from Okwu were heading to the festival when some members of Umuajata attacked them. It was during the fight that he was stabbed in the neck and also macheted in his arm before he bled to death.”

Another source privy to the incident told newsmen  that some elders had intervened earlier when the crisis began.

What happened was as a result of a lingering dispute between the Okwu Olokoro and Umuajata Olokoro communities. When the problem started, the elders reached out to them to settle their differences. They also warned them against engaging in an act that could escalate the matter. Aside from the person who was killed, some people were also injured during the ambush,” the source narrated.

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READ ALSO:Man Stabs Lover To Death In Rivers Over Cheating Allegation

Meanwhile, the Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state has suspended the celebration of a masquerader activity associated with the annual festival, citing rising cases of violence in the area.

According to a statement seen by our correspondent on Sunday, the suspension followed an emergency peace and security meeting convened on Thursday by the Executive Mayor of the Umuahia South Local Government Area, Chinedu Enwereuzo, alongside traditional rulers of the Olokoro Clan, security chiefs, and other stakeholders.

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The statement signed by Enwereuzor partly read, “The Igba Ekpe associated with Iriji (New Yam) festivals is suspended across Umuahia South LGA until further notice. This decision stems from intelligence linking certain festivities to insecurity and criminal activities.

“Ndi Eze, community leaders, and youth groups are directed to enforce full compliance, as communities or groups of persons who violate this directive will face the full force of the law. This suspension will be reviewed once risks are addressed, while cultural identity will continue to be promoted through safe and lawful activities.”

READ ALSO:Gunmen Stab Ogun Bizman To Death

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The council boss urged residents to prioritise peace and unity, especially in the Okwu and Umuajata communities of the Olokoro Clan, where the incident happened.

He added that the safety of lives and property remained the paramount concern of his administration.

When contacted on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State command, Maureen Chinaka, did not respond to calls made to her telephone line.

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A text message sent to her had yet to be responded to as of the time this report was filed.

 

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12 Saudi-bound Trafficking Victims Rescued In Kano

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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Kano Zonal Command, has taken custody of 12 rescued victims of human trafficking, all of whom are female and aged between 15 and 50, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

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The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the development on Monday in Kano while receiving the victims from the Kano State Hisbah Board, which carried out the rescue operation in collaboration with the agency.

According to Babale, the victims were intercepted on Sunday at Karota Luxurious Park, Hotoro Western Bye-Pass, while en route to Ghana and onward to Saudi Arabia for suspected labour exploitation.

READ ALSO:I’m Not Coming, Speed Darlington Defies NAPTIP Arrest Warrant

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He disclosed that the victims, who hailed from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara states, were being trafficked under the guise of seeking better job opportunities abroad.

NAN reports that one suspect, identified as Mohammed Saleh, 45, was arrested in connection with the case.

Babale said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other key suspects involved in the trafficking network.

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The rescue and arrest are in line with the directive of the NAPTIP Director-General, Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello, to intensify intelligence gathering and crack down on suspected traffickers operating within Nigeria,” Babale stated.

READ ALSO:NAPTIP Declares Speed Darlington Wanted For Tape, Cyberbullying

He commended the Commander-General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, and the Kano State Government for their continued collaboration in the fight against human trafficking and the protection of vulnerable citizens.

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Babale assured the public that the victims would undergo counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families, in line with NAPTIP’s victim-centred approach.

He also called on parents to be more vigilant in safeguarding their children from traffickers who exploit economic hardship and lure victims with false promises of greener pastures abroad.

We urge members of the public to report any suspicious movement or activities related to human trafficking in their communities,” he added.

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