In a major clampdown on the use and sale of illegal drugs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed several key figures, including a well-known artist’s manager and a successful businessman, for distributing illegal drugs in upscale clubs across Lekki and Lagos Island.
According to a statement by NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the agency’s robust action follows a crucial tip-off regarding a shipment of Colorado, a potent strain of cannabis, from Los Angeles.
The first suspect arrested on Sunday, July 23, was Oseni Abdulraheem Ayodeji Babatunde, a prominent figure in the Lekki entertainment scene. Babatunde confessed to his involvement in the business of buying and selling illegal drugs for the past three years and named high-profile clubs, including Quilox, Silver Fox, DNA, and Hot Box, as the distribution points.
READ: Bandits kill Muslim cleric, kidnap scores in Birnin-Gwari
Men of the NDLEA intercepted ten parcels of Colorado, weighing 2.50kg, hidden in coffee tins and duvets at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), linked to Babatunde. A subsequent search of his residence led to the discovery of more quantities of the illicit substance along with related equipment.
The second individual, a businessman who resides in Ikoyi, Nnadi Kingsley Ikenna, who was out of the country when the shipment arrived, was apprehended upon his return on Thursday, July 27th. Ikenna admitted ownership of part of the confiscated consignment.
According to Babafemi, several other high-profile seizures and arrests were made as part of this major anti-drug operation, underscoring NDLEA’s unwavering commitment to eradicating drug trafficking in the country.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA intercepted a cargo going to Nairobi, Kenya. A search of the consignment revealed that various quantities of MDMA (Ecstasy), popularly known as ‘Molly, and Rohypnol were concealed in a bag consisting of foodstuffs. An agent, Onydem Chinwe Florence, who presented it for export, was arrested.”
“Also, an attempt by another suspect, Igboma Ifeanyi, to export quantities of Loud, a variant of Cannabis, Tramadol, and Rohypnol, all weighing 7.8 kg and concealed in 66 bottles of skin lightening lotion, was thwarted by vigilant operatives who intercepted him while he was preparing to board an Ethiopian airline flight to Muscat, Oman, at the Lagos airport.” The statement reads.
Reacting to the successes recorded, the Chairman of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the dedication and tenacity of the officers involved.
He urged all NDLEA commands to remain steadfast in their mission to counter the increasingly desperate tactics of drug cartels and barons. The ongoing operation is a stark reminder of the continuous battle against drug trafficking in Nigeria and the relentless efforts of NDLEA to disrupt this illegal trade.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
