NDLEA Arrests Ex-Convict Grandpa for Returning to Drug Trade, Intercepts 5.3kg Tramadol Concealed in Mannequins
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an ex-convict and grandpa, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, in Akwa Ibom State, for returning to illicit drug trade following the seizure of 5.7 kilograms of skunk from his residence.
Nkanta, 80, was first apprehended by the NDLEA on December 14, 2022, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The arrest followed intelligence-led operations which led to the discovery of the illicit substance in his home.
This was disclosed in a statement made available to ThelensNG on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
“Not ready to let go the old habit, Nkanta returned to the illicit drug trade and following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 10th January 2025 tracked the Octogenarian ex-convict to his Mmanta – Abak village, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis in his residence,” the statement noted.
In another successful interdiction operation in Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Oron-Ibaka road in Oron LGA on Friday, January 9, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman Ani Onyebuchi Romans while travelling with full body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroon.
According to Babafemi, a search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilograms.
“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended. It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra State and was trafficking them to Cameroon to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids,” he said.
Elsewhere (Oyo State), raids across different locations led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and the arrest of notorious dealers, including 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa, Ibadan, where a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, and skunk (all strains of cannabis) were seized.
The spokesperson disclosed that at the time of Bamidele’s arrest on Thursday, January 8, two vehicles — Toyota Venza and Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD were recovered from him.
Similarly, NDLEA officers on Friday, January 9, arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud, and skunk at Adegbayi area of Ibadan, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud, and skunk. Not less than ₦1,307,100 cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest.
A dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects — Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday, January 9, arrested at Ihama/Airport road GRA Benin City, Edo State, in connection with the seizure of 118grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.
While Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, was arrested at Irrua with 17.552kg Colorado, Loud, and skunk, another suspect Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, was nabbed at Ubiaja with 930 grams of skunk on Wednesday, January 7.
In Niger State, no fewer than 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were recovered from a suspect Nazifi Umar, 22, at Dakwa town, Tafa LGA, while another suspect Yusuf Usman, 41, was nabbed with 100 blocks of skunk weighing 47kg Lankaviri at Yorro LGA, Taraba State, on Wednesday, January 7.
The statement added: “Not less than 30,950 capsules of tramadol were recovered from the home of a suspect Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in Bachure area of Yola South LGA, Adamawa State following his arrest at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola on Tuesday 6th January.”
In the same vein, the Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places, communities, and other places in the past week.
The activities included WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Government Day Science and Technical College, Babura, Jigawa; Abiayubal Ansari Islamiyya School, Layin Indo Mai Tuwan Tara, Fagge LGA, Kano; and youths of Oshituma Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo, Ebonyi State, among others.
Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Oyo, and Niger Commands of the Agency for their commitment and professionalism.
Marwa also commended them for the balanced approach to drug supply and drug demand reduction efforts across the country.
