A major breakthrough has been recorded in the nation’s anti-narcotics war as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, after seven years of being on the run.
By Chimezie Godfrey
A major breakthrough has been recorded in the nation’s anti-narcotics war as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 60-year-old drug kingpin, Okpara Paul Chigozie, after seven years of being on the run.
Okpara, who had been on the agency’s wanted list since 2019, was apprehended at his hideout at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, in the Ojo area of Lagos on Sunday, July 13. His arrest followed the earlier interception of some of his drug consignments at Ilasamaja, along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
In the early morning sting operation, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, who was en route to Onitsha in a white Toyota Sienna. A search using the agency’s sniffer dogs uncovered 7.6kg of cocaine and 900g of methamphetamine concealed within the vehicle. A follow-up search at Okpara’s residence yielded an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg of meth.
In a series of operations across the country, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, on Wednesday, July 16, intercepted 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from the luggage of an Italy-bound passenger, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa. The suspect, who was flying to Italy via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, claimed he bought the drugs to resell in Europe.
Similarly, on Thursday, July 17, NDLEA officers at the export shed of the airport intercepted 1.70kg of skunk concealed in packs of Golden Morn cereal, destined for Pakistan. A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, was arrested in connection with the illicit consignment.
Meanwhile, operatives on Saturday, July 19, raided Sarah Sam Hotels, located at 115 Ogudu Road, Kosofe, Lagos, where party drugs were being distributed. One Obayemi Oyetade was arrested with 1.30kg of chocolate cannabis, 900g of cannabis-infused gummies, and 22.9g of skunk. Three vehicles were also recovered from the scene.
In Kaduna, three suspects — Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi, and Emmanuel Madu — were apprehended during a raid in the Narayi High Cost area of Chikun LGA. The raid yielded 742.866kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was arrested with 36,000 pills of tramadol on the Danbatta-Kazaure road, while in Gombe, Aliyu Abubakar was caught with 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at Gombe roundabout on Friday, July 18. On the same day, Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, with 49 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 29kg.
In Borno, NDLEA operatives intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 along Baga Road, Maiduguri, leading to the arrest of 44-year-old Audu Modu. In Bayelsa, a 63-year-old grandmother, Akuna Nelson, was arrested at Osiri, Yenagoa, with 163 litres of skuchies.
In Kogi, four suspects — Ikechukwu Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55 — were arrested on the Okene-Lokoja highway with 2kg of methamphetamine en route from Onitsha to Minna.
Also, on Monday, July 14, NDLEA officers raided the Aba base of one Nduka Obi, 39, at 4 Niger Street, Ugwa Road, Abia State. The raid led to the recovery of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, and ₦736,000 in cash.
In Enugu, 45,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from 30-year-old Chisom Okpalaeke along the Onitsha-Enugu expressway. In Taraba, Ngwokwoka Thomas and Mohammed Audu, both 44, were arrested in Dan-Anacha, Gassol LGA, with 10,000 capsules of tramadol and a gram of cannabis.
In another major operation, the NDLEA destroyed 101,150kg of skunk in a forest in Osun State.