Officers of the Special Operation Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled a cartel led by a drug baron, 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi, and his 50-year-old elder sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi. The operation uncovered cocaine and methamphetamine worth over N4.1 billion in street value at their hideout in Aba, Abia State.
According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, the special operation conducted on June 13th and 14th at Boundary Avenue, Aba, and a residence along Ohia Road, Ohia, Abia State, led to the arrest of the ring leaders and the seizure of 20.76 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine. The operation followed months of intelligence gathering.
Why It Matters
The rising incidence of drug-related activities across Nigeria poses significant threats to public health and safety. The NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to dismantle drug cartels and intercept large quantities of narcotics highlight the urgent need for continued and enhanced drug control measures. These operations also reveal the extensive networks involved in drug trafficking and the challenges faced in combating these illicit activities.
Additional Operations
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives uncovered a warehouse stocked with codeine-based syrup in Kirikiri. Four individuals were arrested, and 82,000 bottles of the opioid worth more than N600 million were seized. Additionally, on June 12th, officers intercepted Ibrahim Abdulhamid with 29,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids in Ojo, Lagos.
In Kano and Jigawa states, NDLEA officers arrested Yasir Rabi’u and Abubakar Ado with 230,600 pills of tramadol on June 10th. Hassan Abdullahi Ali was also nabbed with 150 bottles of codeine syrup in Kano on June 11th. Similarly, in Ogun State, operatives seized 390 kg of cannabis and arrested three individuals during a raid in Ibese.
In Edo State, officers destroyed 10,534.78 kg of cannabis on over 4 hectares of farmland in Uhen forest on June 12th, arresting four suspects. In Ekiti State, 18,425 kg of cannabis on 7.37 hectares was destroyed on June 14th.
In Abuja, two suspects were arrested with 3,550 bottles of “Akuskura,” a psychotropic mixture, on June 14th. In Benue State, Emmanuel Ogechi was nabbed with 11,200 pills of tramadol on June 12th, while Anayo Onwe was arrested with 62.4 kg of cannabis sativa in Anambra State. In Kwara and Oyo states, officers arrested individuals with substantial quantities of cannabis.
Bottom Line
The NDLEA’s recent operations shows the agency’s dedication to eradicating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The significant seizures and arrests demonstrate the extent of the drug problem and the need for sustained efforts to combat it. The ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, targeting schools, worship centers, and communities, is crucial in raising awareness and preventing drug misuse. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their relentless efforts and urged them to continue their crucial work in reducing both the supply and demand for illicit drugs.
