NDLEA confiscates N10.7bn illicit drugs, arrests 7

NDLEA operatives

The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confiscated illicit drugs valued at over N10.7 billion in Benin.

The State Commander of the Agency, Mr Buba Wakawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Benin, that seven suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

Wakawa, who gave a rundown of the command’s achievements during the third quarter of 2016, said the seven suspects were arrested with 34.2 Kilogrammes of Methamphetamine.

He described Methamphetamine as more dangerous and harmful than cocaine, adding that it was not commonly known to ordinary people on the street.

According to him, the confiscated drug has a street value of about 700,000 dollars per kilogramme, which translates to 23.9 million dollars for the 34.2 kg confiscated.

The commander also put the estimated value of the seized drug at about N10.7 billion.

He disclosed that the suspects, who concealed the substance in 102 cartons of HP computer printer cartridges, were arrested on Sept. 24, on Lagos- Benin-Asaba Expressway.

Wakawa disclosed that the command also arrested 69 other suspects during the period under review for alleged drug trafficking.

He said that nine out of the 69 suspected drug traffickers were women, adding that two had been charged to court.

Wakama said that the total narcotic confiscated during the period weigh up to 2, 156.1 Kilogrammes.

He listed the drugs to include 1, 911 kilogrammes of Indian hemp, 34.2 Kilogrammes of Methamphetamine, 3.5 grams of cocaine, 129 kilogrammes of Tramadol and 82 kilogrammes of Diazepam.

The NDLEA commander added that 11.514 hectares of cannabis sativa were destroyed during the period under review and five vehicles impounded.

According to him, the command currently has 162 pending cases in various courts in the state and had counselled 32 drug addicts.

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg...

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog