NDLEA Intercepts 14.5 Tons Of Ghanaian Loud Linked To Wanted Drug Baron In Lagos

.. Arrests Deaf And Dumb, Others For Dealing In Illicit Substances; Recovers 546,700 Pills

Mobolaji Michael

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted large consignments of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana loaded in two trucks and a J5 bus with a total weight of 14, 524.8 kilograms.

The three vehicles conveying jumbo bags of the psychoactive substance were trailed and intercepted at the Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Sunday 28th January 2024. In the process of blocking the vehicles, two of the drivers jumped off on motion while the third driver, 66-year-old Nasiru Ojomu, who works with wanted Akala, Mushin-based drug baron, Suleiman Jimoh (alias Olowo Idi Ogede, also known as Temo) was arrested. 

In the last three years, NDLEA operatives have seized several shipments of same psychoactive substance worth billions of naira linked to Temo. The wanted drug lord has since gone into hiding while the Agency continues its manhunt for him.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol around a warehouse sealed at Church Street, Idumota, Lagos by the Agency over an ongoing investigation on Thursday 1st February arrested three suspects: Joseph Joshua; Muhammed Adamu and Balarabe Musa who burgled the store and loaded 546,700 pills of tramadol and other opioids into a waiting yellow bus marked BDG 447 XD and an unregistered Suzuki minibus.

Meanwhile, a male deaf and dumb suspect dealing in illicit substances has been arrested in the Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna State. At the time of his arrest, 150 grams of cannabis were recovered from him while selling the psychoactive substance. Another suspect, Ibrahim Sani, 56, was also arrested in possession of 51 kilograms of same substance in the Tirkaniya area of the state.

Operatives in Abuja on Wednesday 31st January arrested Emmanuel Paul with 43.5kg cannabis concealed in used shoes loaded in a trailer coming from Ogbese, Ondo State to be delivered at the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

In Katsina State, NDLEA officers on patrol along Dutsinma -Katsina Road on Friday 2nd February apprehended a suspect, Murtala Isah, 35, with a total of 37,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids recovered from him. 

In Kogi State, operatives on Wednesday 31st January destroyed 833.32 kilograms of cannabis sativa on a two-acre farmland at Iluke Community, Kabba- Bunu Local Government Area while the owner, Samuel Atonila, 49, was equally arrested. On the same day, operatives in Nasarawa State also arrested three suspects: Muhammed Musa, Bilyaminu Musa and Sadiya Ya’u with same psychoactive substance weighing 24.4kg at Uke, Karu Local Government Area of the state, while no fewer than 258 kilograms of same substance were recovered from a bush store around Ikare bypass, Owo, Ondo State.

In the same vein, NDLEA Commands across the 36 states and the FCT continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation lectures in schools, communities, workplaces and others in the past week. Some of these include WADA sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Gombe State College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada;  parents, students, and teachers of Kemta Comprehensive High School, Olugbo, Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State; students of Government Day Science Technical School, Babura, Jigawa State; students and staff of Government Science School, Mokwa, Niger State; students of Ansarudeen Secondary School, Iludun, Osun State; students of St David’s Anglican Basic School, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; students of Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Anguwar Danya, Wudil Local Government Area, Kano State; traders at Ogbo-Olu Timber Market, Anambra State and commercial motorcyclists in Oko Afo, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Badagry, Lagos State, among others.

Eighteen-Eleven Media