3rd October, 2021
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested Mario Okiwelu, a final year student of Fine Arts and Design, University of Port Harcourt.
Okiwelu was arrested for importing from the US five variants of liquid cannabis weighing 49.6grams.
He was arrested through controlled delivery along with his accomplice, Precious Awuse on Monday 27th Sept 2021 around the NIPOST area, Port Harcourt.
In the same vein, Hayatu Galadima, a man suspected to be a fake soldier, and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu were also arrested while conveying drugs, ammunition, and communication equipment to bandits in Kaduna.
The duo was arrested by a patrol team of NDLEA officers along Gwagwalada expressway, Abuja on Friday 30th September 2021.
The items recovered from them include 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in a water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (Walkie talkie); four army coloured head masks; wallet containing army ID card, 1USD, 2 FCMB, 1 First Bank, 1 Ecobank, 1 UBA, 1 Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis Sativa; tablets of tramadol; three MTN, two 9mobile and one airtel sim cards packs; one iPhone 12 pro; one Samsung A31; and one Nokia phones; seven NA pass letters; five handbags and one bag containing personal belongings, as well as a gallon of palm oil.
Hayatu Galadima, however, claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan.
The suspects added that they were taking the exhibits to Kaduna and Kano.
However, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North West and were possibly moving the ammunition and the two-way radios to bandits who are presently excommunicated due to the suspension of telecommunications services in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states.
Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed the FCT Command of the Agency, which made the arrest to transfer the suspects to authorities of the Nigerian Army and another intelligence agency, which had earlier placed the two men on its watch list for further investigation.