Few weeks after operatives
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted $2.1 million
dollars in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the Agency has
arrested a twenty-five (25) year old man with forty-eight million, four hundred
and fifty thousand naira (N48,450,000:00). The monetary exhibit was detected
during routine motorized surveillance along Abaji Abuja express way. The command
also arrested a cannabis dealer with seventy-nine bags of dried weeds that
tested positive for cannabis weighing 817kg.
The FCT commander of
the NDLEA, Mrs. Obijuru Chinyere said that the twenty-five year old suspect claimed
that the money belongs to a bureau de change. “The suspect, John Okafor was on
board a commercial bus from Onitsha in Anambra State when N48,450,000:00 was
found in a brown carton concealed in a sack. He also had on him eighty-six
thousand, five hundred CFA Franc. He claimed that the money belongs to a bureau
de change at Onitsha. Chukuka Ugbai was arrested at Bako village in Kwali Area
Council following the discovery of his cannabis warehouse” Chinyere stated.
Okafor John in his
statement said that he was on official assignment for a bureau de change in
Anambra State. “I work for a bureau de change at Onitsha. I was asked to purchase
dollars at the foreign exchange market in Abuja with the money. When we got to
Abaji, our vehicle was searched and the money was found. That is all I know
about” Okafor stated.
It was judgment day
for Chukwuka Ugbai who was caught red handed at his residence. In his words, “I
can say I was not lucky enough because I do not know how they detected my
cannabis warehouse. I sell cannabis to take care of my family and pay my
children school fees. The officers found seventy-nine (79) bags of cannabis in
my store house. I pray to get out of this problem never to do it again in my
life”.
Chairman/Chief
Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade called on members of the public to adhere
strictly to the provisions of the anti-money laundering act. “The Agency is
committed to the fight against illicit drugs and related offences such as money
laundering. It is important to comply with the provisions of the act and
embrace the cashless policy. The cannabis seizure made at Bako village is part
of ongoing drug supply control plan to cut away drugs from the end users. We shall
be vigilant to identify any violation of the NDLEA Act relating to drug
trafficking and money laundering” Giade stated.
Meanwhile, John
Okafor had been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for
further investigation while Chukwuka Ugbai will soon be charged to court for
unlawful possession of cannabis.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
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