The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old former convict, over alleged possession of illicit drugs.
Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the octogenarian allegedly returned to drug trafficking after serving his jail term.
The agency said Nkanta had previously been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by the federal high court in Akwa Ibom state after his arrest in November 2022 for drug-related offences.
Babafemi disclosed that operatives traced Nkanta on January 10 to Abak village in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom, where 5.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a cannabis strain, was allegedly recovered from his residence.
“Barely three years after he was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs, an 80-year-old grandpa Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta has again been nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for returning to the criminal trade,” the statement said.
“Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.”
ILLICIT DRUGS UNCOVERED IN MANNEQUINS
In a related operation, NDLEA operatives arrested Ani Onyebuchi Romans, a 37-year-old businessman, for allegedly transporting mannequins concealed with tramadol pills weighing 5.3 kilogrammes.
The suspect was intercepted along the Oron–Ibaka road in Oron local government area of Akwa Ibom while reportedly travelling to Cameroon.
“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended,” Babafemi said.
“It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”
Babafemi also said NDLEA operatives arrested Remi Bamidele, a 45-year-old man, at Sasa in Ibadan, Oyo state, over alleged possession of multiple cannabis variants.
“At Adegbayi area of the state capital Ibadan, NDLEA officers on Friday 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk,” the statement said.
“Not less than one million three hundred and seven thousand one hundred naira (₦1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday 10th January.
“A dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects: Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday 9th January arrested at Ihama/Airport road GRA Benin City, Edo state in connection with the seizure of 118grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.”