Crime
NDLEA arrests drug baron linked to Saudi cocaine smuggling attempts
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Suleiman Aremu, a suspected drug baron, over attempts to smuggle cocaine to Saudi Arabia.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s spokesperson, said Aremu, also known as Barryshine, came under the agency’s watch after four failed attempts to export drugs to Saudi Arabia and Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, between 2022 and 2024.
In a statement on Friday, Babafemi said Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a female passenger on Qatar airlines flight to Saudi Arabia, was arrested at the airport on November 13, 2022, in possession of 400g of cocaine concealed in female shoes.
The agency said upon investigation, it was found that one Abdullahi Olarenwaju Ramon, Aremu’s brother, hired Sidika.
“Further facts emerged that the flight tickets and other travel expenses of the suspect were sourced by Alhaji Suleiman Ganiu Aremu,” the statement reads.
“A few days after the arrest of Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, another drug mule, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga was also arrested on November 24, 2022, with the same quantity of cocaine, 400 grams, concealed in male footwears while going to the same destination, Saudi Arabia.
“The suspect, Lawal Lateef Oyenuga confessed that one Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan (a.k.a Teacher) who was later arrested and convicted by the court, hired him for Suleiman. Lawal further alleged that Wasiu Gbolahan linked him up with the baron through one Igbono, who was later unveiled through investigation as Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye (a.k.a Igbono, Murphy, Femi Iwaya, Ade Iwaya, Baba Eje and Ejeoto).
“While investigation of the two cases subsisted and the manhunt for the baron was ongoing, two drug mules were arrested at the MMIA on June 21, 2024 on their way to Doha, Qatar.
“One of the suspects who was later identified as Aikhomoun Daniel (a.k.a Oladapo Olanrewaju) expelled in observation custody a total of 90 pellets of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg, which he ingested, while the second suspect, Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji excreted 60 wraps of cocaine with a total weight of 662 grams.
“Further investigation later revealed that the two arrested couriers, Aikhomoun Daniel and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were recruited by the same Igbono who works for the baron and featured in 2022 during the arrest of Ajesegiri Kehinde Sidika and Lawal Lateef Oyenuga.
“Financial investigation conducted by the Agency also linked the baron Suleiman to the arrested suspects and two of his associates who recruit traffickers for him: Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon, both currently at large.”
Babafemi said the agency blocked the bank accounts linked to members of the cartel after which Suleiman was eventually taken into custody on August 26, 2024 for further investigation.
The NDLEA said Suleiman, who resides in Lagos and Paris, claimed he is into property development and hotel management.
He also claimed that his regular visits to Saudi Arabia was to perform the lesser hajj.
The agency said Dipeolu Isaac, judge of the federal high court in Lagos, has granted an application by the NDLEA for the extension of Suleiman’s detention for 30 days.
The judge also granted the agency’s request to declare Suleiman’s — associates Oluwafemi Akande Abidoye and Olanrewaju Abdullahi Ramon — wanted.
Crime
UK prison officer, Linda De Sousa Abreu jailed over viral sex video with inmate
A former prison officer in the UK has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after being filmed engaging in sexual activity with an inmate.
Linda De Sousa Abreu, 30, was identified by senior prison staff when the footage surfaced online and quickly went viral.
Abreu was arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to board a flight to Madrid with her father.
She had previously admitted to misconduct in public office.
Andrew Davy, the governor of Wandsworth, expressed the broader consequences of Abreu’s actions in a statement to Isleworth Crown Court.
He stated that her behavior had undone “less than a day” the years of effort female staff had invested to build respect and trust in the all-male prison.
He also noted that many female staff members reported being “hit on” more frequently by inmates and now felt “considered fair game.”
The court heard that the incident captured in the viral video occurred between June 26 and 28, and further investigation revealed additional misconduct.
A recording of Abreu performing a sex act on the same inmate was discovered on her prison-issued body-worn camera.
She admitted to having sexual relations with the prisoner on another occasion as well.
Judge Martin Edmunds KC described the viral video as part of a pattern of repeated misconduct rather than an isolated incident.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that investigations into the two prisoners identified in the video are ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service commented: “While the overwhelming majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest, we’re catching more of the small minority who break the rules by bolstering our Counter Corruption Unit and strengthening our vetting processes. As today’s sentencing demonstrates, where officers do fall below our high standards we won’t hesitate to take robust action.”
The Prison Officers’ Association, which represents prison staff, acknowledged that corrupt individuals like Abreu undermine the efforts of their colleagues but emphasized that such cases represent a small minority.
Crime
Police Arrests Cop-killer, Dismantles Child-trafficking Syndicate
As Operatives Recover Illicit Arms, Ammunition.
The Nigeria Police Force as part of its efforts to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians by employing proactive, intelligence-driven strategies to combat crime have evolved improved strategies to combat crimes and criminality.
These efforts have led to the disruption of criminal networks and a notable decrease in incidents of organized and violent crime, enhancing the overall security situation in the country.
On the 1st of November 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Ogaga Dickson ‘m’ 35 years, a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate responsible for the death of CSP Hassan Jega, the DPO Agbarho Division, Delta State, who was killed on the 14th of October 2024, during a fierce gun battle between a team of police officers led by the deceased DPO and the assailants, after the team of police men had foiled one of their robbery operations.
The operatives had earlier stormed the gang’s den and engaged them in a fierce gun duel leading to the neutralization of 4 of the gang members. Upon Ogaga’s arrest, the police recovered one Ak 47 rifle, one English pistol, one locally made pistol, ammunition of various calibres and six exotic vehicles.
Similarly, police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard ‘m’ of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State on the 2nd of December 2024.
The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze ‘f’, Victoria Ugwu ‘f’, Nanman Puntel ‘f’, and Peter Ukwuani ‘m’. Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Furthermore, In line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up every illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT have successfully recovered 14 Ak-47 Rifles.
These operations exemplify the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria Police Force and highlight the effectiveness of our efforts to combat crime and enhance national security.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
6th January 2025.
Crime
Lagos filmmaker, Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe arrested over cannabis trafficking case
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, a US-trained Nigerian filmmaker, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
The NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday, said the filmmaker was apprehended at a hotel in Lekki, Lagos, on December 27, 2024.
It said the arrest came shortly after one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, identified as an associate of his, was apprehended earlier the same day at Ajao Estate, Ikeja.
The operatives revealed that James was intercepted at a warehouse retrieving a shipment of 33 parcels of “loud”, a potent strain of cannabis.
The shipment, weighing 17.30 kilograms, had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 24 via a Delta Airlines flight.
The substance was concealed in “large wooden crates”.
The NDLEA disclosed a series of other arrests and drug seizures across the country.
Among them was Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, a 61-year-old Lagos socialite, who was apprehended at her mansion in Okota after operatives intercepted a truck loaded with over 1,500 kilograms of cannabis.
In Kwara state, two young women were arrested for producing drug-laced cupcakes allegedly targeted at students.
Similarly, in Rivers state, a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex uncovered more than 300,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Kano, a separate raid led to the seizure of over 149,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5.
Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, said the agency is abiding by a “balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction”.
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