A serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is telling operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, why he derailed from his mandatory national assignment to importing drugged candies from the United Kingdom.
22-yearold Arnold Maniru, who was deployed for national service at a government agency in Abuja, was arrested in Abuja for importing four kilograms of drugged candies from the United Kingdom.
He was picked up by narcotic operatives on Saturday August 28, following the interception of the consignment of candies at the warehouse of a transport company.
Spokesperson for the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday that “a controlled delivery of the parcel, which contains the candies laced with Arizona, a strong variant of cannabis and some liquid, was subsequently carried out”.
Detectives at the NDLEA are reportedly interrogating Maniru on his exploits and cohorts, in a move towards busting a possible massive crime ring.
The development came just as operatives of the anti-drug agency intercepted in Lagos cookies laced with drugs en route the United Arab Emirate, UAE.
The illicit drugs intercepted in Lagos included 1.2kg of cannabis concealed inside locally made cookies to be transported to Dubai, UAE and 920grams of cocaine hidden inside synthetic hair heading to Saudi Arabia.
Also, a consignment of 1.08kg cannabis concealed in spray cans going to Pakistan and 625grams of methamphetamine hidden in clothing heading to Australia were also seized, according to Babafemi in a statement on Sunday.
Part of the statement read: “Across the states, operatives also intensified arrests of traffickers and seizures of illicit drugs.
“A total of 384.7 kilograms of assorted narcotics being transported to the nation’s capital, Abuja for sale were intercepted and seized at patrol points in Lokoja, Kogi state on Monday 30th August and Thursday 2nd September, 2021.
“A truck with registration number Plateau AA 462 QAP, driven by a 50-year-old Danlami Dodo, coming from Onitsha, Anambra, with Abuja, FCT as destination, was intercepted at a patrol point in Lokoja.
“Upon a search, the following psychoactive substances were discovered packed in sacks and cartons: 1,975 bottles of Cough Syrup with Codeine weighing 282kg; 199 packets of Exol-5 tablets weighing 75.4kg; 250 packets of Diazepam tablets weighing 15.4kg; Cannabis Sativa weighing 5.9kg; and 1 packet of Ketamine injection, all weighing 378.7kilograms.
“Also on Thursday, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number Lagos MUS 716 XK, coming from Ojota, Lagos to Abuja was stopped and searched at the Lokoja patrol point, where 6kg of Arizona was found sealed in cartons and stuffed in a white sack.
“In Rivers state, one Obey James was arrested during a raid with 4.2grams of heroin; 1.9grams of cocaine and 5.4grams of methamphetamine while in Niger state, two suspects; Eze John and Michael Ifediegwu were arrested along Zungeru-Tegina road with 18kg of Exol 5; 2kg of Tramadol and 1000 ampoules of pentazocine injection, all going to Kontagora in the state.
“In Kano, a drug dealer, Chiduzie Ibegbunam, was arrested with 16.8grams of cocaine and 0.6grams of heroin while 158,000 monetary exhibits were recovered from his when his joint was raided”.
