The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested thechief priest of the Igunuko shrine, Alpha beach Ajah Lekki, Lagos state where 2,760kg skunk was recovered on 25th October 2024.
Its Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement issued Sunday said the Chief Priest, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo) was arrested by NDLEA operatives after over three months of manhunt for him.
He said: “Though two of his accomplices were earlier arrested at the shrine last year and had since been charged and convicted in court, Bariu was said to be the leader of the syndicate.”
Babafemi added that operatives have also seized a 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 2,217.6 kilograms while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja for onward distribution to some Northern states.
He noted that the intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car.
He noted that the operatives also arrested a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Desmond.
Babajide revealed that the consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in Owan local council area of Edo State.
He added: “In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.
“No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA.
“The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.”
Babafemi stressed that a total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1,190,168,200 in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.
He revealed that the illicit consignments were discovered during joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs and other security agencies on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th January 2025 at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state.