Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Operatives have arrested 10 online drug traffickers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to the agency, they were caught with assorted illicit drug substances including cocaine, crack/charlie, molly/ ecstasy, skunk, brownies and loud, the most expensive psychoactive variant of cannabis in town.
Among the criminals arrested is a 28-year-old Ese Patrick who sells her illicit substances in partnership with her boyfriend via her Instagram account; Ese’sOvenSecret
In a statement issued on Sunday by Mr Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Ese was arrested after undercover operatives of the agency ordered some of her products she sells online.
Another trafficker, Peter Nkejika was arrested with Cannabis wrapped in several dozens, he was tracked by the operatives following an interception of a dispatch rider who led them to him.
“Ese Patrick was tracked and arrested with some pieces of brownies ordered online by NDLEA’s undercover agents, on 21st May 2021 and delivered by herself and her boyfriend in a Mercedes Benz car,” Babafemi stated.
“A follow-up operation at her residence led to the seizure of 400 grams of Arizona weed, which she uses in baking the brownies.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of one lyama Patrick, with 450 grams of Arizona weed. He supplies Ese with the cannabis she uses.
“A day earlier, a motorcycle belonging to a courier company, Sky Port was abandoned by a despatch rider in Wuse zone 4 upon sighting NDLEA’s outpost in the area. The motorcycle was later found to contain several pinches of crack cocaine (a.k.a Challie), and some envelopes of Arizona meant for delivery.
“Another online drug trafficker, Peter Nkejika was arrested on Monday 24th May 2021 following an arrest of a despatch rider with some quantity of Loud, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis. Each portion of loud costs N30,000 and the rider was caught with 17 portions for delivery,”
In another raid, five dispatch riders and a lady Dolapo Benjamin was arrested with packaged cocaine and other substances for delivery to customers.
“On Tuesday 25th May, NDLEA operatives intercepted two online drug transactions and arrested two despatch riders with some quantities of cocaine and Loud already packaged for delivery recovered from them.
“In all, five despatch riders and a lady, Dolapo Benjamin who owns motorcycles involved in door to door distribution of drugs and drug-based edibles; cakes and brownies were arrested while six despatch motorcycles involved in door to door drug distribution were seized,” Babafemi added.
Also, three traffickers were arrested with 105.5 kilogrammes of compressed parcels of cannabis as well as Rohypnol and Tramadol was intercepted on May 27, 2021, along Gwagwalada- Abuja road, in a luxury bus.
Elsewhere, three kilogrammes of cannabis inbound Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UEA) were seized at a Lagos courier company.
“On the 27th May 2021, operatives intercepted 30 compressed parcels of cannabis, heading to Ningi, Bauchi state, as well as Rohypnol and Tramadol meant for the FCT. The drugs weighing 105.5kilograms were seized along Gwagwalada-Abuja road, in a luxury bus. Three persons were arrested in connection with the exhibits, while two more despatch motorcycles were seized with some quantities of cocaine and cannabis on Saturday, May 29 as the raids across the FCT intensify.
“Meanwhile, operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) of the agency have intercepted 445 grams of Methamphetamine going to New Zealand and concealed inside USB chargers and hair attachments, with another 450 grams of cannabis Sativa going to UAE and concealed inside local soap containers at a courier company in Lagos. In the same vein, 125 grams of heroin concealed inside academic thesis books was seized at another firm while 2kg of cannabis Sativa hid inside tractor’s balloon was intercepted at another courier company also in Lagos,” Babafemi stated.
While commending the efforts of the FCT Commander, Mohammed Malami Sokoto on the latest arrests and seizures, Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed the Command to immediately embark on stop and search of commercial despatch riders across the city to curb the online drug trafficking trend.
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