The Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced it has secured multiple convictions in a single day.

This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the NDLEA Kano State Command, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, in a statement issued on Thursday.

Maigatari highlighted that the Agency’s recent convictions demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the rule of law and a strict zero-tolerance policy towards drug offences.

“The Agency secured multiple convictions in one day, underscoring our resolve to maintain law and order and rid society of drug traffickers,” he said.

Among those convicted was a 25-year-old, Ibrahim Tahir, who was found guilty on three separate drug-related charges. Each count carries a three-year sentence, to be served consecutively, resulting in a total of nine years in prison.

In another case, James Temitope Ajayi, a 40-year-old ex-convict and notorious distributor of Cannabis Sativa, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for trafficking illicit substances. Maigatari noted that Temitope’s conviction was particularly significant given his history of cross-regional drug trafficking.

The NDLEA PRO further revealed that the convictions have effectively disrupted a major drug supply chain, helping to protect communities from the dangers of illicit substances.

“These convictions are part of our consistent efforts to disrupt major supply chains and safeguard communities from the devastating impact of drug abuse,” Maigatari added.

Additionally, two other offenders, Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 40, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were each sentenced to six years in prison for drug-related crimes.

The court ruled that none of the convicts were given the option of a fine, sending a strong message to potential offenders about the seriousness of drug-related crimes.

Maigatari emphasised that the swift administration of justice in these cases reinforces the message that crime does not pay.

“By holding offenders accountable for their actions, Justice Shuaibu is contributing to a safer, more just society,” he noted.

The State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr. CN AI Ahmad, lauded the support of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd.), whose backing has been instrumental in achieving these milestones. Ahmad also expressed gratitude to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his dedication to combating drug abuse in the state.

Ahmad further acknowledged the crucial role played by Justice Shuaibu and the Command’s prosecution and legal services unit in securing the convictions, adding that the NDLEA remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring a drug-free society.

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has truncated an attempt by a syndicate to smuggle illicit drugs worth N1.183 billion into the country in four 40-foot containers through the Apapa Port, Lagos.

In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Usman Abubakar, a Chief Superintendent of Customs, three of the containers were seized at AP Moller Terminal, while the seizure of 236,783 bottles of cough syrup packed in 2,174 cartons in one container was made at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.

Giving further details on the seizures, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, described it as a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling.

Olomu said: “On 11th of October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of 1×40 container number MRKU0377493 found prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.

“The offensive importation was also found to have expired. The smugglers packed them in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton.

“On the same day, during another examination in the same terminal, a 1×40 container TGBU8886020 was found to be laden with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed in 100 bottles per carton.

“Another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, said to contain essential goods was examined on 15 October 2024, and after examination it was found to contain a concealment of 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest, with codeine 100ml packed in 200 bottles per carton.

Giving further details on the seizures, Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, described it as a fallout of the service zero tolerance for smuggling.

Olomu said: “On 11th of October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of 1×40 container number MRKU0377493 found prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.

“The offensive importation was also found to have expired. The smugglers packed them in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton.

“On the same day, during another examination in the same terminal, a 1×40 container TGBU8886020 was found to be laden with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed in 100 bottles per carton.

“Another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, said to contain essential goods was examined on 15 October 2024, and after examination it was found to contain a concealment of 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest, with codeine 100ml packed in 200 bottles per carton.

“At Kachicares Resources Terminal,1x40FT container NO SUDU8579006 said to contain kitchen wares was examined on October 15, 2024 and found to contain concealment of cough syrup for throat and chesty cough in 100ml.

“They were packed in 1,584 cartons. Another set of 83 loose bottles was also found in the container.

“Like I have always said, Apapa Command is committed to seamless trade facilitation powered by robust stakeholders engagement, but will not compromise on our revenue collection, anti-smuggling mandates as we facilitate trade.

“For the umpteenth time, I want to warn perpetrators of unlawful trade to steer clear from Apapa Port as our eagle eye officers relying on intelligence, technology and on the job experience are out to uncover all their smuggling antics.”

Codeine abuse has been found to cause nausea or vomiting, making addicts feel sleepy, unable to concentrate or think clearly, and behave irrationally, including exhibition of criminal tendencies.

Recall that the federal government banned the importation of codeine cough syrup in 2018 following its abuse and the adverse effects it caused on many youths who got addicted to it.

These banned substances have been found to spur criminal activities and deviant behaviors capable of setting society backward.

The Area Controller has directed further investigation into the seizures to unravel further details that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Oguejiofor Nnaemeka Simonpeter, a 29-year-old Thailand returnee, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for smuggling heroin valued at over N3.1 billion.

The arrest took place on October 7, 2024, as revealed by the NDLEA in an official statement.

Oguejiofor, a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, arrived in Lagos on October 5, 2024, after flying from Thailand via Qatar Airways.

His journey included a stopover in Doha, and his luggage was initially routed to Accra, Ghana. However, he later requested for the bags to be redirected to Lagos.

Upon retrieving his luggage, NDLEA officers intercepted him and conducted a thorough search. Six backpacks concealed within two large suitcases were discovered, each containing neatly sewn parcels of heroin. The total weight of the heroin amounted to 13.30 kilograms.

In his confession, Oguejiofor admitted to being hired for $7,000 to smuggle the drugs. “I was meant to deliver two parcels in Lagos and four in Accra,” he confessed.

Seizures at seaports 

In a separate but related operation, NDLEA officers intercepted large quantities of opioids at the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa Seaport, and Port Harcourt Port Complex (Onne) between October 7 and 11, 2024. The seized drugs included 32.6 million tramadol pills, valued at over N12.57 billion, and 1.45 million bottles of codeine-based syrup, worth N10.16 billion.

The total value of the intercepted opioids across the three seaports amounted to N22.7 billion. According to NDLEA, the consignments were flagged through intelligence and subjected to a 100 per cent joint examination with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies.

Other arrests

In addition to these seizures, the NDLEA arrested Okelue Chidera, a 29-year-old suspect, in Anambra State with 50,000 tramadol tablets.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 1,050 kilograms of cannabis at a transit point in Owan West Local Government Area. Another raid in Owan Village led to the arrest of Monday Akele, 38, with 110 kilograms of cannabis.

NDLEA’s fight against drug abuse 

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities across the country, with educational outreach programs conducted in several schools and communities in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi, Edo, and Abuja. These programs aim to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of staying drug-free.

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, praised the officers for their efforts in both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction initiatives.

“The operational successes and balanced approach of our officers are commendable, especially with the increasing scale of these interceptions,” Marwa said.