NDLEA arrests wanted drug baron in Nasarawa, intercepts 1,330kg skunk in Edo

Joy Joseph, Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested a wanted drug baron in Nasarawa state, Sami Ashoko, during the easter weekend, with100 bags of the illicit drug weighing 1,095.3kg seized.

Ashoko, 39, who hails from Ibilo in Akoko Edo area of Edo state, was arrested in Shinge, Lafia based on actionable intelligence., as a team of operatives had stormed his warehouse in Lafia and recovered 100 bags of cannabis weighing about 1.1 tons or 1095.3 kg.

According to the Commander, Nasarawa state Command of the NDLEA, Justice Arinze, Sami, “Ashoko is the most wanted drug baron who has been on our watch list in Nasarawa state. This seizure has beaten the previous record of 45 bags weighing about half ton recovered in January 2021 as the highest singular seizure of cannabis since the inception of the Command in 1999. The seized consignment was meant for Easter sales, and which he expects to sell out in two weeks.”

In a related development, two members of a cartel were arrested in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government area of Edo state and illicit consignments weighing 1,330kg meant for Bauchi state equally seized.

It was gathered that both syndicates, Adamu Badamasi and Adamu Abba, were busted on Friday while trying to distribute their illegal substances for the Easter sales.

They reportedly had 950 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 1,330kg, procured from Uzeba, Owan West Local Government area of the state, enroute Bauchi state for Easter sales.

Commander of the Edo state Command of the anti-drug law enforcement agency, Buba Wakawa disclosed that the arrest and seizure disrupted the Easter sales plan of the cartel, which tried to escape arrest through hinterland routes in their white colour Peugeot J5 space bus with registration number Lagos JJJ 722 XC.

Similarly, another trafficker who supplies drugs to some notorious drug joints in Abuja has been arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while bringing 46 compressed blocks of cannabis for drug dealers in Mabushi and Banex areas of the city.

The Commander, FCT Command of the Agency, Mohammed Salami Sokoto, said the notorious drug supplier has confessed being a major supplier of illicit substances to major drug joints in Abuja.

Speaking in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig.General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended officers and men of Nasarawa, Edo and FCT Commands of the Agency for their efforts, adding that the skunk seized will certainly reduce illicit substances available on the streets.