BY: News Peddlers
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, Usman Bahamas, alias Clement, and 21 others across the country for allegedly possessing tons of illegal drugs.
The suspects were apprehended in raids across seven states.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the septuagenarian was arrested on September 20 at Anguwan in Mayo Belwa council area Adamawa state.
"It was discovered that he had an Indian hemp plantation from which 49kg of the illegal substance was recovered," he continued.
Mr Babafemi also stated that during the operations, 1.01 million bottles and capsules of a newly banned psychoactive substance, "Akuskura," and tramadol were intercepted.
He also stated that 2,536kg of Indian hemp was seized, and that more than 10 hectares of Akuskura farms in Edo and Adamawa were destroyed.
On Wednesday, September 21, NDLEA agents intercepted at least 19,878 bottles of Akuskura on the Ilorin-Jebba Highway in Kwara.
Oladokun Oluwaseun, 49, and Ibrahim Jimoh, 27, were arrested in connection with the drug, according to Mr Babafemi.
"They claimed the shipment, which was packed in 35 jumbo sacks, was loaded in Ibadan and was destined for distribution in Jos."
"Earlier, at Mararaba Park in Ilorin, two suspects, Ukoro Ifeanyi, 46, and Idowu Toyosi, 20, were apprehended with 2,290 tramadol capsules and 100 bottles of codeine-based syrup."
"The drugs came in from Onitsha, Anambra," he said.
NDLEA agents also stopped a Volvo truck carrying 2,146kg of Indian hemp in Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos State.
According to Mr Babafemi, three suspects were arrested for the drug: Abdulazeez Rasheed, Afeez Raheem, and Moshood Suleiman.
"At least 979,119 expired 'Pregabalin' capsules weighing 733kg were recovered from Musbahu Ya'u, 28, and five others in Kano's Dansarai Area."
"On Tuesday, September 20, 197.8kg of Indian hemp was recovered from a store at New Market in Enugu," he added.
He also stated that 117.7kg of psychoactive substances were intercepted in a truck traveling from Lagos to Abuja on the Okene-Abuja Expressway.
Mr Babafemi went on to say that six Indian hemp farmers were arrested when NDLEA agents raided their farms in Edo.
They were apprehended in the state's Chigbite, Utese Forest, Ovia Northeast Local Government Area, and Ekudo Forest, Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
The operatives destroyed more than ten hectares of Indian hemp plantations while seizing more than 193kg of the illegal substance.
Mr Babafemi stated, "Those arrested are David Hanson, Ufuoma Progress, Marvelous Armstrong, Marvelous Efe, Joshua Abubakar, and Elijah Abubakar."
(NAN)