The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 80-year-old ex-convict, Jeremiah Nkanta, and uncovered illicit drugs concealed in full body mannequins, as the agency intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that Nkanta was apprehended barely three years after serving a two-year jail term for drug-related offences. He was first arrested on December 14, 2022, prosecuted, and convicted by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
According to Babafemi, the octogenarian, described as unrepentant, returned to the illicit drug trade after his release. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday tracked him to Mmanta–Abak village in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, recovered from his residence.
In a separate operation in the state, NDLEA officers intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi, along the Oron–Ibaka Road in Oron Local Government Area. Onyebuchi, who was travelling with full body mannequins reportedly for a clothing business in Cameroon, was found to be transporting 5.3 kilogrammes of tramadol pills concealed inside the mannequins. Investigations revealed that the drugs were purchased in Onitsha, Anambra State, and were being trafficked to Cameroon for sale.
The agency also recorded significant seizures in Oyo State, where raids across Ibadan led to the arrest of several suspected drug dealers. Among them was 45-year-old Remi Bamidele, popularly known as “Aluko the Mafia,” who was arrested at Sasa with 10.696 kilogrammes of assorted cannabis strains, including Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, and skunk. Two vehicles—a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris—were recovered from him.
Other arrests in the state included Adeola Toheeb, 27, and Habeeb Ali, 29, from whom various quantities of illicit drugs and ₦1,307,100 in cash were recovered.
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested three suspects in Benin City in connection with the seizure of Canadian Loud and Colorado, while additional arrests and seizures were recorded in Irrua and Ubiaja. Further operations in Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa states led to the recovery of thousands of tramadol capsules and large consignments of cannabis.
Babafemi noted that alongside enforcement actions, NDLEA commands across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities.
Commending the officers involved, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Oyo, and Niger commands for their operational successes, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to a balanced approach of drug supply reduction and demand reduction nationwide.
