NDLEA Cracks Major Drug Ring: 80-Year-Old Ex-Convict Arrested with Narcotics Hidden in Mannequins

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has re-arrested Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old grandfather, for returning to the illegal trade, just three years after he was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years in jail for trafficking in illicit substances.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has re-arrested Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old grandfather, for returning to the illegal trade, just three years after he was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years in jail for trafficking in illicit substances.

According to a Sunday statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, Nkanta, renowned for his notorious drug business, was originally detained on the 14th, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years in Akwa-Ibom State, and was re-arrested on Saturday following a credible intelligence-led operation by the NDLEA.The statement states, "Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by the NDLEA on December 14, 2022, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years in prison by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state."

"Not ready to let go the old habit, Nkanta returned to the illicit drug trade and following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 10th January 2025 tracked the Octogenarian ex-convict to his Mmanta - Abak village, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis in his residence."

In another successful operation in Akwa Ibom state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Oron-Ibaka route in Oron LGA on Friday, January 9, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, who was traveling with full-body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroon. NDLEA agents searched the mannequins and discovered that they were filled with tramadol pills weighing 5.3 kg.

The statement stated that "the suspect claims to live in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended." It was determined that he purchased the pills in Onitsha, Anambra state, and trafficked them to Cameroon for sale, concealing the opioids with two mannequins."

In another operation in Oyo state, NDLEA operatives raided various locations and apprehended notorious dealers, including 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias 'Aluko the Mafia') in Sasa, Ibadan, where a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, and skunk, all strains of cannabis, were discovered. Two automobiles, a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris with the registration number HG 06 LYD, were recovered from him during his detention on Thursday, January 8th.

On Friday, January 9, NDLEA officers caught Adeola Toheeb, 27, in the Adegbayi district of the state capital, Ibadan, with varied quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud, and skunk, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was apprehended on Ring Road in Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud, and skunk.

A cash exhibit worth ₦1,307,100 was recovered from him after his arrest on Saturday, January 10th.

Also in Edo State, "a dispatch rider, Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects, Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were arrested on Friday, January 9th, along Ihama/Airport road, GRA, Benin City, in connection with the recovery of 118grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.

"While Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, was arrested at Irrua with 17.552kg of Colorado, Loud and skunk, another suspect, Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, was nabbed at Ubiaja with 930 grams of skunk on Wednesday, 7th January."

In Niger State, no fewer than 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg were discovered from a suspect, Nazifi Umar, 22, at Dakwa town, Tafa LGA, while another suspect, Yusuf Usman, 41, was apprehended with 100 blocks of skunk weighing 47kg, Lankaviri. Yorro LGA, Taraba State, on Wednesday, January 7th.

Not less than 30,950 tramadol capsules were confiscated from the residence of a suspect, Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in the Bachure area of Yola South LGA, Adamawa state, after his arrest at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport in Yola on Tuesday, January 6th.

The NDLEA's chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa praised the officers assigned to the Agency's Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Oyo, and Niger Commands for the arrests and seizures, stating that their operational successes, as well as those of their compatriots across the country, are greatly appreciated, particularly their balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction efforts.