Businessman turns drug trafficking member in NDLEA net

Emeka Ibemere

He had planned for the Christmas feast well. He had planned to travel for the event on his return from Malaysia, where he was expected to discharge the illicit wares to his buyers who would latter settle him with N5million.

He was to return after two days close to the event and now headed home to South-East and celebrates the event in a bigger way.

This was how he wanted this year’s event to go for him and for it; he invested his ‘meagre’ N900, 000 into drug peddling business after joining the drug cartel gang.

So with these thoughts, Olewunne Chibuzor Darlington left his obscure corner at Alaba International market, Ojo, Lagos State, where he deals on electronics; to catch a big slice of money that would be enough for him to celebrate the event and pumped some funds into his dwindling business fortune. But all those plan turned abscess when he was arrested with unlawful exportation of 450 grammes of methamphetamine to Malaysia, a country notorious for beheading drug traffickers.

The suspect, said he invested nine N900, 000 in drug trafficking in expectation of N5million. Mitchell Ofoyeju said Darlington is currently under investigation in connection with illicit drugs.

According to the NDLEA’s Public Relations Officer, Darlington’s criminal plan was foiled by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos State.

NDLEA Commander at the MMIA Lagos airport, Hamza Umar confirmed the arrest and said that Darlington was found to have ingested narcotics. In his words: “the scanning machine revealed that the suspect ingested drugs during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight. He was on his way to Malaysia but during observation, he excreted 450 grammes of substance that tested positive to methamphetamine”.

Responding to his captors, the suspect said that he wanted to purchase electronics with the illicit drug proceeds.

“They told me that I can make N5million profit if I invest N900, 00. It was a tryout business for me because it is my first time. I also did it of my financial predicament. I am from a poor family and the eldest”, Darlington claimed.  The suspect also appealed for mercy.

 Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade while commenting on the arrest called for stiffer punishment for drug traffickers.

“No doubt, stiffer punishment will help in reducing cases of drug production and trafficking. We shall prevent drug traffickers from using the country as a transit point for drug trafficking. It is sad that a businessman will prefer to invest in criminality when there are countless legitimate businesses”, Giade explained.

 “I am glad that we arrested him here because of the capital punishment for drug trafficking in Malaysia. His arrest abroad would have added to the number of Nigerian drug convicts in foreign prisons. We have equally prevented Nigeria’s image from disrepute”.

The NDLEA boss however expressed delight that the suspect was caught in Nigeria.

 Meanwhile, Justice Adamu Hobon of the Federal High Court Ado-Ekiti has granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), go-ahead order to destroy 11,500kg of forfeited drug exhibits.

Daily Newswatch gathered that the drugs were seized from drug trafficking syndicates within the State. Last weekend, on Friday December 13, 2013, to be precise, the drugs were destroyed in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital under the supervision of Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade.

 Honourable Justice Hobon in two separate orders of forfeiture and leave to destroy by public burning dated 1^st day of March 2013, and 5^th day of December 2013, empowered the anti-narcotic Agency to carry out the public destruction.

 NDLEA boss says exhibit destruction has helped in dislodging drug trafficking cartels in the country.

“Nigeria is winning the war against narcotics as many drug cartels have been dislodged through regular drug seizures, forfeiture and destruction. Public destruction of drugs is an open testimony of our collective resolve in ridding our communities of illicit drugs,” Giade noted.

The Agency within the year had conducted similar destruction events in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja as well as in Edo, Oyo and Kano States. The Ekiti drug destruction makes the total quantity of drugs destroyed publicly by the NDLEA in 2013, to all time record of 145,869.525kg.

Giade while presenting the scorecard of Ekiti State Command, commanded the officers for their efforts notwithstanding the numerous challenges confronting the Command.

“I am encouraged with the arrest of 1,118 suspected drug traffickers with 35,606.969kg of drugs and the conviction of 49 drug offenders by the Ekiti State Command since January 2013. There are 30 female drug suspects among those apprehended while the seized drugs include 10kg of psychotropic substances, 70 grammes of cocaine and 10 grammes of heroin. Five cannabis cultivators were among those convicted”, Giade stated.

For the NDLEA commander in Ekiti State, Mr Dele Akingbade, it was in the agency’s vision to keep Ekiti drug free. He said many drug dealers have been arrested and convicted.

According to the commander, the command is helping to clean-up the State of drug trafficking and abuse.

“We have succeeded in doing this largely by constant arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers”, Akingbade said.

Giade promised to support the agricultural programmes of Ekiti State government. “NDLEA will continue to support the agricultural policies of the State through intensive cannabis eradication campaign. Our intelligence gathering efforts led to the destruction of 764 hectares of cannabis farms in 2012 while 875 hectares of cannabis farms have so far been destroyed in 2013 in Ekiti State alone. This will help in promoting the cultivation of only food and economic crops,” the NDLEA boss assured. The last destruction event held in the Ekiti State was in May 2011 when 5.3 tons of drugs were reduced to ashes. 

However, Ekiti State Government has threatened to take over farm land used for the cultivation of Cannabis Sativa otherwise known as hemp or marijuana. Governor Kayode Fayemi made the declaration at the weekend, when he was the Special Guest of Honour at the public destruction of 11,500kg of illegal drugs at Ado-Ekiti by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to the Governor, land forfeiture would serve as a deterrent to land owners who lease their land without monitoring.

“Henceforth, owners of land used for cannabis cultivation will forfeit their land to the State government. This will serve as a deterrent to land owners. We have discovered that the involvement of commercial drivers and motorcyclists in the consumption of cannabis have increased the level of fatalities on our roads. Let us support the NDLEA by being vigilant and taking proactive measures against drug trafficking,” Fayemi pleaded.

The governor added that drugs are life destroyer and any government that was determined to improve the living standards and ensure the security of life and property must be actively involved in drug control programmes, “the Ministry of Education and Health will partner with the NDLEA for the training of secondary school teachers for extensive campaign against drug abuse in the State. Let me also call on parents, guardians, religions leaders and individuals to join in the war against drug use in the State”. The Governor stated

NDLEA Director General, Mr. Femi Ajayi who represented the Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency has carried out similar destruction exercises in other parts of the country.

“The Agency within the year had conducted similar destruction events in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja as well as in Edo, Oyo and Kano States. The Ekiti drug destruction will bring the total quantity of publicly destroyed drugs by the NDLEA in 2013 to 145,869.525kg”.

The Agency also lamented the increasing cases of cannabis cultivation in the State.

 “It is unfortunate that cannabis sativa is steadily displacing legitimate crops from farmlands across the country. Our eradication campaign effort Ekiti in 2012 led to the destruction of 764 hectares of cannabis farms. However, since January 2013, the Ekiti State command had detected and destroyed 875 hectares of cannabis farms. We must explore every strategy to promote the cultivation of food and economic crops instead of cannabis sativa”.

Ajayi thanked the Governor for providing a Drug Rehabilitation Centre for the State command.  “I wish to express my profound gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Kayode Fayemi for his unflinching support for drug control programmes in the State. The State government has donated a bungalow to the Command which will serve as a Rehabilitation Centre. The Governor was very supportive during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking”.

In another development, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for intercepting 233,699.875kg of narcotics in 2012, destruction of 1,404.27 hectares of cannabis plantation with the arrest of 8,052 suspected drug traffickers comprising 7,510 males and 542 females. The president’s satisfaction was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Agency and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

The drug seizures with an estimated street value of over N33billion consist of 228,794.13kg of cannabis, 3,905.447kg of psychotropic substances, 461.15kg of ephedrine, 211.325kg of heroin, 176.55kg of methamphetamine, 131.888kg of cocaine and 19.385kg of amphetamine.

 The NDLEA also successfully prosecuted 1,720 persons for various drug offences. Senator Anyim stated that “I am to convey Mr. President’s commendation of the efforts of the NDLEA in combating the rising trend in the demand for and traffic on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the country”, Anyim writes.

 “President Goodluck also encouraged the anti-narcotic Agency not to relent in its laudable drug control efforts”.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Giade while promising to dislodge more drug trafficking cartels described the president’s commendation as highly motivating.

“This commendation is highly motivating and will further propel us to go the extra mile in our selfless service to humanity. Drug control is a compulsory battle for any society that places value on public safety and security. We shall continue to dislodge more drug trafficking syndicates because anytime we intercept drug from criminals; we are indirectly saving lives”, Giade stated.

The NDLEA boss expressed concern over the use of 1,404.27 hectares of land for cannabis plantation in the year under review. “We must rise up to the challenge of cannabis cultivation in the country. It is sad and disturbing that most farmers are now abandoning food and economic crops for cannabis. This 1,404.27 hectares of land could have changed the fortunes of our agricultural sector if properly utilised” Giade further stated.

According to the NDLEA, most tricks employed by drug trafficking cartels in 2012 but were detected by the NDLEA’s operatives at the International Airports include heroin prepared in tiny threadlike manner and woven in woollen rug carpets imported from Pakistan. It was sent as unaccompanied cargo through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and detected by the sniffer dogs.

Another seizure of heroin from Pakistan intercepted at the airport was hidden inside cartons of footballs.  

However, the largest seizure of heroin in 2012 was hidden in heavy steel moulding machines which were cut open by industrial welders before the drugs were found. This illicit shipment also came from Pakistan through the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

There was a case of a 48 year old widow who concealed 66 wraps of methamphetamine weighing one kilogramme in her private parts. She was to board a Kenyan Airways flight to Nairobi when she was apprehended. Equally strange was the industrial concealment of 2.472kg of cocaine in ear rings, buttons, necklaces, bangles as well as in female belts. This consignment originated from Brazil through the Lagos airport.  Other methods used by drug traffickers in drug concealment include fried chicken imported from Brazil, industrially packed tins of sardines as well as herbal syrups.