The Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have arrested Isaiah Nkanta, an 80-year-old grandpa, over possession of 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, in his residence in Mmanta-Abak village, Abak LGA of Akwa Ibom state.
In a statement on Sunday, Femi Babafemi said Nkanta, an ex-convict, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, following credible intelligence.
Babafemi said Nkata was first arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for dealing in illicit drugs about three years ago.
“Notorious for illicit drug business, Nkanta was first arrested by NDLEA on 14th December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state,” the statement reads.
“Not ready to let go of 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.”
The NDLEA spokesperson also said operatives in Akwa Ibom state on January 9 intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full-body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroon.
According to him, a search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilograms.
“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroun and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended,” Babafemi said.
“It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra state and was trafficking them to Cameroun to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids.”
He added that raids across different locations in Oyo state led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and the arrest of notorious dealers.
Babafemi said one of those arrested was 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa in Ibadan, the state capital, with a total of 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk, all strains of cannabis.
“At the time of his arrest on Thursday 8th January, two vehicles: Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD, were recovered from him,” he said.
“At Adegbayi area of the state capital Ibadan, NDLEA officers on Friday 9th January arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.
“Not less than One Million Three Hundred and Seven Thousand One Hundred Naira (N1,307,100) cash exhibit was also recovered from him at the point of his arrest on Saturday 10th January.
“A dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects: Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday 9th January arrested at Ihama/Airport road GRA Benin City, Edo state in connection with the seizure of 118grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.
“While Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, was arrested at Irrua with 17.552kg 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 recovered from a suspect Nazifi Umar, 22, at Dakwa town, Tafa LGA, while another suspect Yusuf Usman, 41, was nabbed with 100 blocks of skunk weighing 47kg Lankaviri, Yorro LGA Taraba state on Wednesday 7th January.
“Not less than 30,950 capsules of tramadol were recovered from the home of a suspect Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in Bachure area of Yola South LGA, Adamawa state following his arrest at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola on Tuesday 6th January.”
