NDLEA bursts snake-guarded shrine used to store illicit drugs, arrests 2 in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced that its operatives have raided a snake-guarded shrine used to store illicit drugs in the Igor community, Benin City, Edo State.

The NDLEA stated that it also detected a specially constructed large hole in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects, used for storing drugs.

This was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.

Babafemi said different quantities of illicit substances such as methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis, with a total weight of 8.743 kilograms, were pulled out from the deep hole dug in the wall of the shrine building.

According to him, at least two ladies, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested during the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, after the big black snake guarding the shrine was demobilized.

He also announced that two suspects, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, were arrested on Saturday, June 22, when NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, where 209 kg of cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.

Meanwhile, NDLEA said its officers in Lagos have intercepted a carefully packaged consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo area of the state.

Babafemi stated that the highly addictive illicit substance, also called ice or crystal meth, was packed in imported Dunkin’ Turtle Love chocolate wraps and then concealed in the casing of three loudspeakers.

Babafemi said in the statement that a 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume, who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was promptly arrested on Wednesday, June 19, at the park.

“In Abuja, operatives on Tuesday, June 18, intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle with amber lights and fake registration number of a security agency at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT.

“The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8 kg, procured at Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr. Francis Omofa, linked to the consignment was arrested. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug business for 10 years,” Babafemi added.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers and men of the Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands.

Marwa noted the balance in their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts as well as those of their compatriots across the country.

He charged them to maintain the ongoing offensive action against drug cartels as they continue to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaign.