NDLEA arrests 93-year-old great grandpa, doctor in massive nationwide drug bust

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking, arresting a 93-year-old suspect and a 69-year-old medical doctor, alongside multiple other suspects in coordinated operations across the country.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said operatives arrested a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, in Abia State, where 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from his residence.

Babafemi said the suspect admitted engaging in the illicit drug trade for over a year, adding that he had been using the substance for decades before turning it into a business.

He stated that efforts to dismantle an international drug syndicate also led to the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 1.49 kilogrammes of cocaine.

Babafemi added that further investigation uncovered a local collaborator, a medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, who was later arrested in Ogun State, with controlled substances recovered from him.

He said in Ogun State, three suspects were arrested with 34 kilogrammes of skunk, while a separate operation in Imo State led to the seizure of 56.2 kilogrammes from a female suspect.

Babafemi stated that operatives in Niger State also arrested a couple after recovering 118 kilogrammes of skunk from their residence, describing the scale of seizures as significant.

He added that in Borno State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer conveying large quantities of controlled drugs, including 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol and thousands of bottles of codeine syrup.

Babafemi said operations in Lagos led to the interception of a luxury bus and a truck carrying cannabis and codeine-based syrup, resulting in multiple arrests.

He further stated that a raid in Abuja led to the arrest of eight suspects at a notorious drug joint, while operatives in Edo State intercepted two trucks conveying over 7,200 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in beer cartons.

Babafemi added that the agency has continued its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns across schools and communities nationwide.

He said NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended officers for the arrests and seizures, noting that the agency remains committed to reducing both drug supply and demand across the country.