In relation to the shipment of 60 packages of Loud, a strong cannabis strain, from the United States to Nigeria, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents have arrested Arokodare Damil Ebenezer, a businessman from Lekki who owns Damillionz Takeout.
While awaiting the delivery of his most recent cocaine shipment, the 43-year-old was taken into custody on Monday at Bay Lounge on Admiralty Way in Lekki, Lagos.
Femi Babafemi, the agency’s spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that his arrest came when NDLEA agents at a Lagos logistics business on March 12 seized his cargo, which included seven huge containers.
“His arrest followed the seizure of his cargo that arrived in Nigeria in seven big cartons at a logistics company in Lagos on March 12 by the NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation.”
“After his arrest, he was taken to his Lekki home for a search, during which 94 grams of the same psychoactive substance, cannabis crusher and other drug paraphernalia were recovered. This brings the total weight of the drug seized from him to 32.24 kilograms.”
He stated in his confession that he began the illegal narcotics trade in 2017. According to Babafemi, in a separate operation, NDLEA officials stopped Omoruyi Terry, another trader, from exporting 1,400 800-gram Tramadol 225mg pills to Italy.
He claimed that Omoruyi was stopped while boarding a Qatar Airways flight at the Terminal 2 screening area of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“Investigations revealed that he is a frequent traveller and logistics agent based in Italy,” he added.
Between March 24 and 28, he said the NDLEA operatives destroyed 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa found in Edo forests. They also evacuated 158 kilograms for potential prosecution.
He added that the illicit plantations were discovered and dismantled in Uhen Forest, Ovia North East LGA; Sobe, Owan West LGA; and Amahor Forest, Igueben LGA.
Babafemi said, “Not less than 13,198 kilograms of cannabis sativa were destroyed in Edo forests across parts of the state between Monday, March 24 and Friday, March 28, by the NDLEA operatives who also evacuated 158kg of the same substance for possible prosecution. The forests where no fewer than four cannabis plantations were discovered and destroyed include: Uhen forest, Ovia North East LGA; Sobe, Owan West LGA; and Amahor forest in Igueben LGA.”
In Katsina, he said, during an intelligence-led raid at Godai village, Daura Local Government Area, on Friday, March 28, NDLEA agents detained four suspects: Muhammad Babangida, 20; Hamisu Lawal; Haruna Alitine, 23; and Baraka Abubakar, 40.
He claims that 86,000 diazepam pills and 684 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 423 kilos, were recovered during the operation. While Baraka was discovered in possession of massive amounts of skunk at her home, the three male suspects were caught repackaging the diazepam.
He claimed that on Friday, March 28, a patrol team in Niger State stopped a black Toyota Corolla on the Mokwa-Jebba road and took two people into custody: Paul Christopher, 46, and Lucky Star Anumie.
“They were found with 179 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 77.6 kilograms, concealed in a false bottom within the vehicle. In a separate operation on March 29, 50 kilograms of skunk were recovered from the home of a suspect, Isa Iliya, in Wawa village, Borgu LGA. Iliya remains at large,” the statement added.
