TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has busted a five-member cartel trafficking illicit drugs and drug-based edibles online in Abuja.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s director of media and advocacy, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Babafemi said the cartel sold illicit substances such as “marijuana”, “arizona”, and “colorado” online to residents of Abuja and its environs, using the cyber space for marketing.

He said five members of the group were arrested during sting operations carried out between Friday and Saturday by the FCT command of the agency.

He identified the suspects as Queen Nvene and Chika Nvene (sisters), Collins Ozoemena, Samson Peter and Habila Musa.

“The group specialises in clandestine production of drug-based cookies, brownies and other edibles and marketing same online through their Twitter and Instagram handles,” Babafemi said.

“They also market and sell all types of marijuana, Arizona, Colorado, Loud, among other illicit drugs online.

“While Queen Nvene, a graduate of Business Administration produces drug cookies, brownies and sells same on Instagram, Collins Ozoemena sells all types of illicit drugs, especially loud and skunk online.

“Samson Peter on the other hand is the Manager of SK Express courier company, who manages motorcycles and despatch riders to deliver illicit drugs from Collins and drugged edibles from Queen and Chika.

“Members of the cartel operate from different locations within the Federal Capital Territory but operate as a network.”

He explained that supplies of brownies and cookies were delivered and received from different SK Express despatch riders at various times by narcotic operatives before the final sting operation.

Babafemi added that 55 pieces of drugged cookies and brownies, as well as 1.3 kilogrammes of skunk used as ingredients for making cookies and brownies, were seized from the suspects.

Other items seized from them are 0.9 grammes of ecstasy, 300 grammes of skunk, 200 grammes of loud, despatch motorcycles, 10 telephone handsets and two laptops.