Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected drug trafficker notorious for impersonating security officers, Basiru Ibrahim, with 280kg of skunk and Diazepam.
The suspect, who allegedly specialises in trafficking hard drugs from Benin Republic through Lagos to Sokoto State, was arrested on Saturday, April 3, 2021, around 8.30pm at the Kingakwai checkpoint, Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State, while conveying the substances in his Peugeot 406 saloon car with number plate Lagos KSF 60 BE.
The state Commander of the agency, Peter Odaudu, stated that the suspect claimed to be a senior officer of one of the law enforcement agencies in Sokoto State.
A statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stated that the 38-year-old suspect confessed to have trafficked hard drugs thrice from the Benin Republic for a notorious dealer simply identified as Queen.
According to Babafemi, the Niger State Command of the NDLEA also foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,800 bottles of different cough syrups with codeine into Abuja.
He said 1,020 bottles of CS cough syrup with codeine, 390 bottles of CSP cough syrup with codeine and 1,390 bottles of Barcadin cough syrup with codeine were recovered from the suspects.
The statement read in part, “The Commander, Niger State Command of the agency, Haruna Kwetishe, said the illicit substances meant for drug joints in Abuja were procured from Onitsha, Anambra State, and diverted to the Morada Market motor park in Suleja to avoid security scrutiny in Abuja.
“A 27-year-old man, Ezema Sunday, who was to take delivery of the consignment, was arrested on Tuesday, April 7, 2021, along with another suspect, Nehemiah Isa, who was caught with 1.3kg of cannabis and seven grammes of Nitrazepam.”
These arrests are coming on the heels of a renewed vigour by the agency to rid the country of illicit hard drugs.