Crime
Thailand returnee arrested with N3.1 billion worth of heroin at Lagos airport
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.
Crime
Thieves cart away cows meant for church harvest celebration
Suspected thieves have carted away two cows from the premises of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Testimony Parish in the Egbeda area of Oyo state.
In a post published on its Facebook page, the church said the stolen cows, bought at N1.9 million, were meant for its annual adult harvest thanksgiving celebration.
The incident happened on November 11 as the church prepared for the celebration slated for November 17.
After days of searching for the missing cows, the church solicited for financial contributions to buy new cows for the harvest celebration.
“Dear Celestians and The General public, This 2 Huge Cows was stolen where it was Tied in The Church Premises at CCC Testimony parish Elerumoke Area, Egbeda, Iyana Ajia and its meant for slaughter for the 9th adult harvest thanksgiving of the church coming up this Sunday 17th November 2024,” the church wrote on Facebook.
“We hereby solicit for your prayer for quick recovery of this harvest thanksgiving sacrificial materials.
“Anybody with useful information on how to recover these cows or any means of assistance to make the harvest thanksgiving a beautiful one should contact the parish shepherd.”
Crime
NDLEA arrests businessman for smuggling cocaine through ingestion
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a businessman caught with a large quantity of cocaine.
Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media and Advocacy, revealed the arrest on Sunday via his X account, accompanied by a video displaying the seized contraband.
The businessman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly ingested a substantial quantity of cocaine in an attempt to avoid detection.
Babafemi wrote, “Detty December: Before you swallow those drugs, please remember that the new @ndlea_nigeria has the capacity and capability to catch you.
“The businessman who excreted this amount of cocaine will not only spend Christmas behind bars but also risks a life sentence at the end of his trial. Beware!”
Crime
UK teenager risks 20 years in Dubai prison for sex with 17-year-old girl
An 18-year-old British boy has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl in Dubai.
Detained in Dubai, a group of UAE legal experts, said the teenager was on holiday with his parents when he met the girl — who is now 18 — at the same hotel.
The teenagers who are both from London were said to have made plans to continue their romance when they returned to the UK.
The group, which campaigns to help people it says have suffered injustice in the UAE, said the young man was charged because the girl’s mother found their chats and pictures back in the UK.
It was gathered that the woman subsequently contacted police in Dubai and he was arrested.
The boy however claimed he was unaware that the girl was younger than him when they met. The teenager also disclosed that he was in police custody for three days and was unable to contact his parents.
“We had a wonderful time together. We really liked each other but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” he told Detained in Dubai.
“My parents knew about our relationship but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.
“When she left, I couldn’t wait to see her again when I got home. Then suddenly, police knocked on our hotel door. They said they were taking me in for questioning but wouldn’t tell me why. I was frightened and my parents were terrified.”
The teenager, it is understood, could face up to two decades in prison owing to Dubai’s strict laws regarding sex outside marriage.
Radha Stirling, chief executive of the campaign group, said Dubai recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but “still hosts a strict Islamic legal system”.
“Sex outside marriage is legal for tourists but only if both parties are over 18. The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time,” Stirling said.
“Since his arrest, she has turned 18. This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting.
“Parents will be scared to take their older teenagers on vacation with them where they could end up losing their lives over behaviour that’s completely legal in their own countries.”
The teenager and his family have called on foreign secretary David Lammy, their local MP, to intervene in the case.
The teenager is no longer being held in a police cell but is unable to leave the country, with his family facing bills of £2,000 for Airbnb accommodation until his case is resolved.
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