From Princely Onyenwe
NDLEA has busted a notorious cocaine warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos State NIGERIA where N193billion worth of crack was discovered.
On this therefore, arrests of 4 drug barons and 1 other foreign drug dealer was done by the drug law enforcement agents for immediate investigation and possible prosecution as gathered by 9News Nigeria.
Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy of NDLEA Headquarters Abuja was on Monday 19th September 2022 told Newsmen that in whatappears to be the biggest singular cocaine seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos.
At least, four drug barons including a Jamaican and the warehouse manager have been arrested in the well coordinated and intelligence led operation that lasted two days across different locations in Lagos 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.
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) have been commended by NIGERIANs for such a historical burst on drug barron’s.
9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
