NDLEA raids snake-guarded shrine, uncovers meth, cannabis storage in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raided a snake-guarded shrine used for storing illicit drugs in Igor community, Benin City, Edo State.

The shrine, fortified with fetish objects and concealed storage, was uncovered by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a statement by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday.

During the intelligence-led operation, NDLEA agents discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, cleverly hidden behind wallpapers and surrounded by various fetish objects.

This deep hole served as a storage space for a variety of illicit substances, including methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona—three potent strains of cannabis—amounting to a total weight of 8.743 kilograms.

The operation also saw the arrest of two women, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, after the big black snake guarding the shrine was safely neutralised.

In a related development, on Saturday, June 22, NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, arresting two suspects, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46. During this operation, 209 kilograms of cannabis and a motorcycle were seized.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a meticulously packaged consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in the Mazamaza area. The illicit substance, also known as ice or crystal meth, was concealed within imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and hidden inside three loudspeakers. Michael Odiomume, 39, who was attempting to send the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was arrested at the park on Wednesday, June 19.

In Abuja, on Tuesday, June 18, NDLEA operatives intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup truck with amber lights and a fake security agency registration number at Kiyi village in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The vehicle was found loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8 kilograms, sourced from Uzeba, Edo State. The 76-year-old grandfather linked to the consignment, Mr. Francis Omofa, was arrested and admitted to being in the illicit drug business for a decade.

These actions are part of NDLEA’s ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which includes sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities across the country. Recent WADA activities included lectures for students and teachers at various institutions, such as St. Peter’s College in Anambra, Apostolic Grammar School in Osun, and Federal Government Science and Technical College in Benue, among others.

Additionally, the agency conducted advocacy visits, including one to the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the efforts of officers and men in the Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands. He praised their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts and encouraged them to maintain their offensive against drug cartels while intensifying the WADA social advocacy campaign.