…NDLEA Apprehends Suspect
LAGOS – Suspected cocaine worth N1billion have been intercepted by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Illela border town of Sokoto State.
The trafficker, identified as Nkem Timothy, alias Auwalu Audu who is 36 year-old also arrested and presently helping the NDLEA operatives to unravel the owners of the consignment.
Nkem was arrested with 62 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine weighing 1.550kg, which has an estimated street value of about N1billion in Sokoto State.
Confirming the great interception in a statement by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, operatives of the NDLEA intercepted the suspect on a motorcycle around the baggage area at Illela border while trying to cross to Niger Republic.
NDLEA spokesman hinted that the final destination of the trafficker was to be Algeria where he resides, adding that the illicit drug was neatly concealed inside youghurt bottles.
Babafemi explained that, the suspect was found with an ECOWAS passport with different name written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy”.
“The Commander of the operatives revealed that his men had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the transborder drug cartel.
He said, “This is a ground breaking feat for us in the Command as seizure of this magnitude of type A drug (cocaine) has never been made in Sokoto Command before”.
Similarly, the Adamawa State Command of the Agency also said it has arrested one Umar Mohammed with 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 70kg at Lafiya Lamurde area of Adamawa State.
The agency’s Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has thus commended the two Commands and charged them to remain vigilant and ensure no illicit drug goes in or out of their areas of responsibility.
