…President Buhari l congratulates  NDLEA, Chairman 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested five notorious drug barons in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The drug barons are Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica. 

The barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September while the operatives busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos where 1.8tons (1,855 kilograms) of the illicit drug worth more than $278, 250,000) equivalent of about N194, 775,000,000) Naira in street value were seized.

It’s been said to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency

According to the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Monday said, “At least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos state. 

“Kingpins of the cocaine are all members of an international drug syndicate that the Agency has been trailing since 2018.

Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.

“Preliminary investigation reveals the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.

“While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration, (US-DEA), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the bust is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they’ll all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday congratulated the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), on the recent successful operation of the agency leading to the smashing of an international drug syndicate and recovery of 1,855kilograms of cocaine.

The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina was quoted as telling Gen. Marwa, “You have demonstrated over and again that choosing you to lead this fight against wicked merchants of death whose sole aim is to endanger and truncate the future of our youth is a very good choice. Please keep up the good work.

“I deeply appreciate the work that you have put into the eradication of the drug menace. It gladdens my heart as I continue to follow the successes achieved under your leadership.”