NDLEA Arrests Two Female Church Officials, United Parcel Services (UPS) Staff, Client In Delta, Ogun, Others
Two officials of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries (aka Mercy City Church), in Warri, Delta state have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, operatives in a raid in Ogun State.
NDLEA Arrests Two Female Church Officials, United Parcel Services (UPS), Staff, Client In Delta, Ogun, Others
Two officials of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministries (aka Mercy City Church), in Warri, Delta state have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, operatives in a raid in Ogun State.
The suspects, Adewale Abayomi Ayeni, 39, and Ebipakebina Appeal, 41, were linked to two intercepted consignments of the illicit drug in Warri.
According to the NDLEA, Ayeni was one of those managing the prayer Call Centre of the church, while Ebipakebina is in charge of movement of international guests from the airport to the church.
Also, in Warri, other two female accomplices were arrested in the course of investigating the intercepted shipments.
The names of the suspects were given as Naomi David, 28, who is a staff of United Parcel Services (UPS), and Stacy Njideka, also known as Nkiruka, 27, who is a business associate of Ayeni.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said 4,560kg skunk was seized in Lagos, Adamawa, Osun and Delta State adding that NDLEA busts skucchies factory in Ogun; arrests Church officials, two ladies in Fentanyl syndicate raid in Delta
According to him, no fewer than 4,560 kilograms of skunk was seized in interdiction operations in Lagos, Adamawa and Osun by operatives of the NDLEA, who also raided a skucchies factory in Ogun and arrested four members of a drug syndicate including two church officials; female staff of a courier company and another lady, involved in trafficking lethal opioid, fentanyl in Delta.
Babafemi explained that the busting of the fentanyl cartel operating from Warri, Delta state happened barely a month after two members of another syndicate, Odoh Collins Oguejiofor and Oliver Chigozie Uzoma were arrested at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South LGA, Anambra State.
He disclosed that the operatives were able to break the syndicate following months of intelligence-led investigation of the syndicates behind the dangerous drug importation and expirations.
He described the drugs as 100 times more potent than heroin, adding that at the moment, the drug is responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the United States.
He further explained that the operatives of the Agency on Wednesday 5th July, intercepted a Toyota Hilux vehicle marked EPE 863 XD along Ngurore-Mayo Belwa road, Adamawa State.
Babafemi hinted that a search conducted on the van and on the two occupants of the vehicle showed that 118 cartoons of Indomie Noodles packs were used to conceal 544 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 408kg hidden in a false compartment and meant for distribution in Yola, Mubi and Gombe.
The occupant of the van, Kelvin Efe, 51, and Christian Ogaga, 42, were immediately arrested for questioning.
"In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 1st July arrested a suspect, Segun Odeyemi conveying 89 jumbo bags of skunk with a total weight of 3,842kg in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki.
"In Osun state an abandoned J5 Peugeot bus marked AAA 521 SQ with bags of fresh pepper used to conceal 25 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 300.5kg was recovered along Akure-Ilesa expressway after its occupants sighted NDLEA officers on patrol on Friday 7th July.
"In the same vein, operatives in Ogun state on Thursday 6th July, raided a skucchies factory at Ajaka Sagamu where a suspect, Adekunle Adekola was arrested.
"Exhibits recovered from the premises include: 10kg cannabis; 1,356 litres of skucchies; 20 litres of codeine; seven deep freezers; a set of firman generator; and two gas cylinders among others." The statement said.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Babafemi explained gave thumbs up to their counterparts in Adamawa, Lagos, Osun and Ogun for the arrests and seizures of the past week.
"He charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to set their eyes on the goal of ridding the nation of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking." He said.
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