The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate, recovering large consignments of the drug intended for export and local distribution.
According to the NDLEA, the syndicate is led by Agbakoba John Mmadu, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, and their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that the raid, conducted by a special operations unit, followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate known for trafficking cocaine within and outside Nigeria.
Agbakoba John Mmadu, 54, was apprehended at Ago Palace Way in the Okota area, while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, were arrested at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, on July 3, 2024.
The NDLEA reported the seizure of seven parcels of cocaine weighing 7.652 kilograms from Mmadu at Ago Palace Way. An additional 122 compressed pellets of cocaine, weighing 2.42 kilograms, were confiscated from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate. The total seizure amounted to 10.1 kilograms, valued at over N2.1 billion.
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives in Benue state intercepted 350 grams of cocaine concealed in an MP3 speaker at a checkpoint along Enugu Road, Otukpo, on July 4. A follow-up operation at Flight Motor Park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the consignment’s owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.
On July 3, NDLEA officers conducting a stop-and-search operation along Ngurore-Yola Road in Adamawa state arrested Yves Ahmat Gali, a Chadian national, who was found with a loudspeaker concealing 20 compressed blocks and nine plastic containers of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 5.200 kilograms.
The NDLEA also reported additional arrests and seizures across Nigeria.
In Kano, a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, was arrested with 1.250 kilograms of Loud at the Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area, on July 3. In Osun state, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, was apprehended on July 5 with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5 kilograms.
In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided Ikota forest in Ifedore LGA, destroying 42,500 kilograms of cannabis on 17 hectares of farmland and recovering 73.5 kilograms of the substance during a five-day operation that concluded on July 1. Two suspects, Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were arrested.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives arrested Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, on July 6 along Abaji-Gwagwalada Road with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 tramadol pills, 50,000 diazepam pills, and 59 Rophynol pills. The suspects claimed they were transporting the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra state.
The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.
These included lectures for students in various states such as Oyo, Anambra, Enugu, and Kano, and a WADA sensitization lecture at Sabo Motor Park, Kaduna.
NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit and various state commands for their efforts in reducing drug supply and balancing these efforts with WADA sensitization activities.
He urged them to maintain their diligence and commitment to the fight against drug abuse.
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