Title: Unearthing Vulnerability: The Plight of Blind Drug Traffickers and NDLEA’s Battle Against Illicit Drugs
In a harrowing tale that underscores the depths of human desperation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently made a series of arrests that exposed the disturbing involvement of three visually impaired individuals in the illicit drug trade. In a crackdown on drug trafficking, the agency apprehended a total of 10 suspects, including three blind men, and confiscated narcotics valued at a staggering N13 billion. This heartbreaking story raises questions about the vulnerabilities that lead individuals down dark paths.
The NDLEA’s Director for Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed these troubling details in a recent statement. The operations unfolded across three different locations in Lagos, unearthing a disturbing reality.
The first operation commenced with a raid on House 8/10 Hon. Wahuha Avenue in the Divine Estate, Ago Palace area of Amuwo Odofin. There, law enforcement agents seized a staggering 14,481,519 pills of Tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup, with a street value exceeding N13 billion. These drugs, which wreak havoc on countless lives, were stashed away for distribution.
In a subsequent operation, NDLEA operatives targeted a secret warehouse operated by a wealthy trader in Idumota, known as Nwaoha Anayo. This operation resulted in the discovery of 12,700,000 pills of tramadol, exposing the extent of the illegal drug trade.
Furthermore, the agency uncovered a syndicate using their official cover to facilitate the smuggling of illicit drugs through the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) warehouse at the Lagos airport. This endeavor bore fruit as NDLEA apprehended six members of the syndicate and seized 1,210,000 pills of tramadol in a painstaking operation that unfolded over several weeks.
In a tragic twist, the agency’s operations uncovered the involvement of visually impaired individuals. A blind suspect, Adamu Hassan, was apprehended along the Gwagwalada expressway in Abuja, unknowingly carrying 12 kilograms of skunk from Lagos to Kano. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Bello Abubakar, the apparent mastermind behind the syndicate, who is also blind. Bello, who has lived in Lagos for 30 years, confessed to engaging in the illicit drug trade for the past five years.
The third suspect, Muktar Abubakar, equally blind, has resided in Lagos for 40 years and is married to three wives with 14 children. Both Muktar Abubakar and Bello Abubakar are revealed as joint owners of this illicit business. Another visually impaired suspect, Akilu Amadu, was the one who delivered the drug consignment to Adamu in Lagos for onward transportation to Kano. A fourth blind suspect, Mallam Aminu, who was to receive the consignment in Kano, remains at large.
As NDLEA officers conducted further operations, they unearthed a cannabis farm in the Obada sawmill forest, Owena-Ijesa, Oriade LGA. In this operation, a suspect named Monday Sylvester was arrested, and a vast 6.01-hectare cannabis farm was destroyed, with 489.8 kilograms of already processed plant matter recovered. Meanwhile, in Edo, law enforcement agents raided a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi forest, Owan West LGA, seizing a staggering 603 kilograms of illicit substances.
Additionally, NDLEA officers in Ogun state recovered a Toyota Sienna bus from a ditch along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 460 kilograms of the same illicit substance. In the Mushin area of Lagos, they seized 116.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa, belonging to a suspect who remains at large.
In an effort to combat drug abuse, NDLEA organized awareness campaigns and advocacy lectures across the country, collaborating with various educational institutions and authorities. These efforts aimed to educate and inform the public about the perils of drug abuse.
Despite the grim challenges and vulnerabilities presented in this disconcerting report, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), expressed commendation for the agency’s officers and encouraged them to remain steadfast as they expand their operations against drug cartels. The battle against illicit drugs continues, unearthing not only the dark underbelly of drug trafficking but also the human stories of those caught in its grip.
