The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reported that its operatives raided the Lagos base of a prominent cocaine syndicate allegedly led by a couple, Agbakoba John Mmadu and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, along with their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane.
Large consignments of the class A drug intended for export and local distribution were recovered during the operation.
The NDLEA stated that a special operations unit conducted the raid after months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on a syndicate known for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within and outside Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, on Sunday.
Babafemi reported that Agbakoba John Mmadu, 54, was apprehended at Ago Palace Way, Okota, while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, were arrested at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, all on July 3, 2024.
He detailed that seven parcels of cocaine weighing 7.652 kilograms were found with Mmadu, while 122 compressed pellets of cocaine totaling 2.42 kilograms were seized from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate. The total seizure amounted to 10.1 kilograms, valued at over ₦2.1 billion.
“Meanwhile, NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation along Ngurore – Yola road in Adamawa state on Wednesday 3rd July arrested a Chadian, Yves Ahmat Gali in a commercial bus coming from Kano to Yola. The suspect was found with a loudspeaker used to conceal 20 compressed blocks, and nine plastic containers of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 5.200kg.
“In Kano, operatives on Wednesday 3rd July arrested a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area of the city, with 1.250kg of Loud, while in Osun state, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was on Friday 5th July arrested with fresh cannabis plants that weighed 5kg.
“Two suspects: Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided Ikota forest in Ifedore LGA, Ondo state where a total of 42,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 17 hectares of farmland while 73.5kg of same substance was recovered for the prosecution of the suspects during a five-day operation that ended on Monday 1st July.
“In Abuja, the FCT, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 6th July arrested the duo of Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, in a vehicle along Abaji- Gwagwalada with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup; 13, 540 pills of tramadol; 50,000 pills of diazepam and 59 pills of rohypnol. The suspects claimed they were bringing the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra state,” Babafemi said.
Babafemi also reported that on July 4, 2024, NDLEA operatives in Benue state intercepted 350 grams of cocaine concealed in an MP3 speaker at a checkpoint along Enugu Road, Otukpo.
A follow-up operation at Flight Motor Park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.
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