NDLEA Arrests 2 With 2.615kg Cocaine In Ceramics, Buttons At MMIA

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Thursday, arrested two suspected drug traffickers for illegal importation of 2.615 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside ceramics meant for interior decoration as well as buttons from Brazil at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

The suspects, Mr. Ogbonna Chukwuemeka, 38, and Mr. Otum Godgive Osondu, 45, were arrested when officers of the anti-narcotics agency discovered the cocaine after breaking the ceramic ornaments imported by the suspects and subsequently arrested them.

The suspects, however, stressed that they got involved in the illegal importation of hard drugs because they were offered huge sum of money that they could not resist.
Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar said the suspects concealed the cocaine in their luggage on their
way from Brazil.

Vanguard

NDLEA: Baba Suwe Goes To Supreme Court

Baba Suwe has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court against the decision of the Court of Appeal to quash the N25 million awarded as damages to him against National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,
NDLEA.
Baba Suwe’s counsel, Bamidele Aturu filed the appeal at the Supreme Court on Friday.

Aturu is seeking an order from the Supreme Court setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and affirming the decision of the lower court.

The High Court of Lagos had ordered the NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe N25 million as damages after he was incarcerated for many
days for alleged possession of hard drugs, but the Appeal Court set aside the High Court’s judgment in the matter.

In the appeal filed, Baba Suwe contended that the Court of Appeal ought to have affirmed the
High Court judgement since the NDLEA has no power under the Constitution or under any law
to keep a person in detention without bringing him to court within the period provided for in
section 35 of the Constitution.

He argued that the fact that the respondent claimed to be investigating the allegation of
commission of crime against the Appellant is not a warrant for breaching the unambiguous
provision of section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as
amended, saying that the evidence that another person who was arrested three days after the
arrest of the Appellant excreted on the second and third day 60 wraps of drugs.

“That the Appellant did not excrete any banned substance ought to have led the Court of Appeal to conclude that the detention of the
Appellant for 19 days was unreasonable.

“There was no legally admissible basis to justify the detention of the Applicant beyond the period stipulated in section 35 of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

The safeguard provided by law against a suspect absconding is bail and not indefinite detention without trial as suggested by the
Court of Appeal,” he stated.

PM News

NDLEA Probes Celebrities In Nollywood And The Music Industry For Hard Drugs

The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said it is keeping tabs on more celebrities in Nollywood and the music industry for drug trafficking, abuse and links with drug cartels.

The agency said the move became necessary, following its investigation into the activities of controversial actress and singer, Tonto Dikeh, for possible consumption of hard drugs.

Dikeh had on June 28, 2013, posted
photographs of a wrap of hemp and grains of the weed formed into the letters, ‘Happy birthday POKO.’
She also posted a photograph of herself with the inscription, ‘Mi smoke ganja mi smoke weed while my haterz smoke ma gossip.’

In an interview with our correspondent on
Friday, the Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, said that Nollywood stars had been prosecuted for drug-related offences.

He said, “We are beaming our searchlight on more celebrities with regard to drug trafficking and abuse.

“The arrest and conviction of Nollywood stars, Hassanat Akinwande, popularly known as Wunmi, and Tochi Uche have clearly shown that some members in the sector are vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation by drug cartels.

“We have a responsibility to investigate and identify anyone involved in drug trafficking and use. We are deeply concerned, when such personalities are linked with drugs because of their large number of fans.”
Ofoyeju said the implication of having celebrities dealing in hard drugs was that their fans might like to act like their role models.

He added that the improper conduct of a celebrity might have “ripple effects” on their followers.

“This will not be treated with kid gloves. It is counterproductive to the country’s drug abuse prevention campaign. Any breach of the NDLEA Act will not be condoned,” he stated.

The NDLEA spokesman said sniffer dogs had been instrumental to major drug seizures in the country.

“The heroin hidden inside woollen rug carpets imported from Pakistan was detected by the sniffer dogs. The dogs help to detect drugs that ordinarily are difficult to uncover, using normal search techniques,”
he said.

He further said the agency had not recorded any drug seizure on private jets, adding,
“We are taking measures to ensure that drug trafficking cartels do not use such
jet's.”

NDLEA, which said it would investigate Dikeh, had hinted that the actress and singer risked a minimum of 15 years in jail for allegedly encouraging the consumption of hemp.

She, however, denied using the weed, saying the photos were ‘photoshopped.’

Source: Punch