NDLEA Nabs Malaysian Returnee with Meth Hidden in Music Speakers
…Intercepts Trans-Border Trafficker with Fentanyl Injection, Other Opioids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 41-year-old ex-convict and Malaysian returnee, Ndubuisi Udatu, popularly known as Richard, for attempting to traffic methamphetamine cleverly concealed inside music speakers destined for Yola, Mubi, and across the Cameroonian border.
Udatu was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Monday, 7th April, at a checkpoint in Namtari along the Ngurore–Yola road in Adamawa State.
Acting on intelligence, the officers intercepted a commercial bus and discovered two giant music speakers within which four large parcels of methamphetamine, weighing a total of 2.7 kilograms, had been expertly hidden. A cash exhibit of N22,300 was also recovered.
According to a statement by the suspect, he had returned to Nigeria to resume his illicit drug trade following his release from a Malaysian prison, where he had served time for drug trafficking offences.
In a separate operation, NDLEA officers, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service, conducted a joint interdiction along the Nigeria–Cameroon border at Mfum in Cross River State.
The operation led to the arrest of 35-year-old trans-border trafficker, Odoh Peter Ikechukwu, who was found in possession of a staggering 8,740 ampoules of assorted opioids weighing 395kg.
The haul included 1,080 ampoules of fentanyl injection, 2,160 ampoules of morphine sulphate injection, 3,010 ampoules of phenobarbital sulphate injection, 2,160 ampoules of pethidine injection, and 330 ampoules of midazolam injection.
The NDLEA also recorded significant seizures in other parts of the country. In Kano, on Friday, 11th April, operatives apprehended 27-year-old Aliyu Ibrahim at Bachirawa area with 20 ATM cards and 25,600 pills of tramadol (225mg and 250mg).
This arrest followed intelligence gathered during routine checks. In a related operation, 48-year-old Gambo Lawan was arrested at Wazobia Motor Park, Gwagwalada, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after a follow-up to the seizure of 8,960 tramadol pills on Monday, 7th April, along the Gwagwalada expressway.
Similarly, officers along the Mokwa–Jebba road in Niger State on Friday, 11th April, intercepted a Lexus car bearing registration number KTU 54 CU. Inside the boot, 11 jumbo bags containing a total of 124 kilograms of skunk—a potent strain of cannabis—were recovered.
The vehicle was being driven by 58-year-old Ademiluyi Adedapo Collins.
Meanwhile, the Agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign in several states, promoting drug prevention through sensitisation and community outreach.
Recent activities included lectures and awareness drives at New Era Secondary School, Nteje, Anambra State; Promise Land College, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos; Cherryfield College, Jikwoyi, FCT; Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogbomoso, Oyo State; and Nurul Faruq Islamic Academy, Gombi, Adamawa State.
In Kwara State, the NDLEA command paid an advocacy visit to the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), commended the officers and men of the Adamawa, Cross River, FCT, Kano, and Niger State Commands for their diligence and professionalism.
He urged all NDLEA personnel across the nation to remain steadfast in their offensive against drug cartels while intensifying drug demand reduction initiatives.
