NDLEA arrests 75-year-old grandpa for ‘drug trafficking’ in Anambra

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Uchelue Ikechukwu, a 75-year-old man, for alleged drug trafficking in Anambra. 

In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, said Uchelue was nabbed on Thursday at Umudioka, Dunukofia LGA of Anambra, with 26.7kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

Eneh Makuo, Emmanuel Chiemeli, Uwakwe Matthew, Chukwujekwu Ehirim, Ifeanyichukwu Olisa, and Odoh Chukwuma were also arrested, allegedly in possession of various quantities of opioids and skunk cannabis, in the Nkwelle and Amichi areas of the state.

NDLEA also apprehended Alfa Andrew on Tuesday after operatives, supported by troops of the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Forest Security Service, stormed a 71.5-hectare cannabis farm located at Mayodoga forest, Mayosabere ward in Sardauna LGA of Taraba.

The 178,750 kilograms of skunk cannabis on the farm, allegedly owned by Andrew, was destroyed.

“No fewer than 104,900 capsules of tramadol concealed in the driver compartment of a fuel tanker, suspected to be an illicit consignment going to insurgents in parts of Borno state, were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate in Kaduna on Friday, 29^th August, while a suspect Hassan Buba was immediately taken into custody,” the statement reads.

“Another suspect, Kabir Sulaiman, 45, was nabbed with 34.150kg skunk by NDLEA officers at Gwargwaje – Zaria checkpoint on Saturday, 30th August.

“Following intelligence and surveillance, NDLEA operatives in an interdiction operation on Saturday, 30th August, arrested a major supplier of illicit opioids in Borno state, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, shortly after he received his supplies from Onitsha, Anambra state. Recovered from his apartment at Chescon, Pompomary area of Maiduguri include 30,640 pills of tramadol 225mg; 7,940 tablets of rohypnol and a cash of Seven Million Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred  Naira (N7,999,200.00) only in N200 new notes.”

The anti-drug agency also arrested Abubakar Dauda with allegedly 79,040 pills of tramadol and diazepam at Abacha park, Mararaba Karu in Nasarawa.

Similarly, Babangida Tungura was in the Lafia area of Nasarawa, allegedly with 30,410 pills of tramadol.