NDLEA Seizes N193billion Worth Of Dru-gs In Lagos, Buhari Reacts | PHOTOS

The anti-narcotic agency recovered 1.8tons (1,855 kilograms) of the illicit drug worth more than Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($278, 250,000) equivalent of about One Hundred and Ninety Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy Five Million (N194, 775,000,000) Naira in street value.

According to a statement released on Monday by Femi Babafemi, the Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager were arrested during the intelligence led operation which lasted for two days in various locations of the state.

"Kingpins of the cocaine cartel in custody include: Messrs Soji Jibril, 69, an indigene of Ibadan, Oyo state; Emmanuel Chukwu, 65, who hails from Ekwulobia, Anambra state; Wasiu Akinade, 53, from Ibadan, Oyo state; Sunday Oguntelure, 53, from Okitipupa, Ondo state and Kelvin Smith, 42, a native of Kingston, Jamaica. They are all members of an international drug syndicate that the Agency has been trailing since 2018.

Located at 6 Olukuola crescent, Solebo estate, Ikorodu, the warehouse was raided on Sunday 18th September, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in different parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday 19th September.

Preliminary investigation reveals the class A drugs were warehoused in the residential estate from where the cartel was trying to sell them to buyers in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. They were stored in 10 travel bags and 13 drums.

While commending all the officers and men of the Agency involved in the extensive investigation including those of the American Drug Enforcement Administration, (US-DEA), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the bust is a historical blow to the drug cartels and a strong warning that they'll all go down if they fail to realise that the game has changed" the statement read in parts.

Reacting to the discovery which is believed to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated NDLEA's boss Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) on the achievement.

A statement released by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity said Buhari lauded Marwa in a telephone call from New York where he is attending the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77).

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying to Marwa;

"I deeply appreciate the work that you have put into the eradication of the drug menace. It gladdens my heart as I continue to follow the successes achieved under your leadership.
"You have demonstrated over and again that choosing you to lead this fight against wicked merchants of death whose sole aim is to endanger and truncate the future of our youth is a very good choice. Please keep up the good work.ÔÇØ