The Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), made the call in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the agency’s Director of Drug Demand Reduction, Dr. Ngozi Madubuike. This was during the opening session of a three-day Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training, organized by the NDLEA in collaboration with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) on Sunday in Abuja.

Marwa emphasized that introducing drug tests at NYSC camps would serve as a deterrent to drug use and assist in identifying those in need of intervention and support.

“The NYSC is a critical platform in shaping the future of our youth. Introducing mandatory drug tests will ensure we are sending responsible and drug-free graduates into the workforce,” he stated.

Dr. Madubuike further noted that early detection through testing would play a crucial role in curbing drug dependence and preventing its long-term consequences among young Nigerians.

The NDLEA has expressed concern over the increasing involvement of young people—particularly students and recent graduates—in drug-related offenses. According to the agency, the proposal aligns with its broader strategy of prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation.

While many stakeholders have applauded the proposal as a proactive move, others have raised concerns about issues such as privacy, implementation logistics, and potential stigmatization.

An NYSC official source confirmed that the proposal is under review and reiterated the scheme’s commitment to ensuring a safe and development-focused environment for corps members.

If approved, the drug testing initiative may be implemented as early as the next orientation exercise.

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In a near death experience, a 59-year-old businessman Chijioke Nnanna Igbokwe has undergone a surgery, exploratory laparotomy, to let out 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine stuck in his stomach after seven days of ingesting the illicit substance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Igbokwe was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight on Sunday 26th January 2025. He was promptly taken for body scan, which revealed illicit drugs in his system.

He was soon after taken into NDLEA custody for excretion observation.

The spokesperson of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, says investigation revealed that Igbokwe who claims to be into cloth business at Arena, Oshodi area of Lagos, departed Lagos on 22nd January to Addis Ababa where he ingested the 81 wraps of cocaine the following day 23rd January and boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon to deliver the illicit consignment for a fee of $3,000.

“Upon his arrival in Beirut, he said he was refused entry because he had less than $2,000, the amount required to grant him entry. He was then deported to Addis Ababa where he attempted excreting the illicit drugs but could not. He thereafter proceeded to Lagos on Saturday 25th January with the consignment in his bowel. He was however arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers on 26th January.

After five days under excretion observation, he could only expel 24 pellets following initial medical intervention at the Agency’s medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja.

With the clock ticking for him and the complication of other underlining medical conditions, the suspect was eventually admitted at the tertiary facility where he had to undergo exploratory laparotomy to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine stuck in his stomach after his wife and brother endorsed the necessary consent forms on Thursday 30th January. “

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The 61-year-old Nollywood filmmaker was arrested on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in her mansion at Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload illicit drug consignment from her staff same day.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in statement said: “Known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka”, Alhaja Ajoke as she is fondly called in social circle, has her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the wanted list of NDLEA for leading one of the drug cartels operating from Mushin area of Lagos.

The lid was however blown off her invincibility on Wednesday 1st January 2025 when NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis and driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Thereafter, the operatives stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole street, off Ago Palace way, Okota, where they arrested her.

On the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China but beneath is a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.”

The post NDLEA Arrests Lagos Socialite and Drug Kingpin, Feyisara Ajoke Elediye appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

NDLEA disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi.

NDLEA said Ukatu was arrested on a flight to Abuja from Lagos airport on April 13.

The statement read, “Billionaire drug baron behind the N3billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, IRT, Chief Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

“After months of surveillance and evading arrest, Ukatu who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies was eventually nabbed onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday 13th April.

“Investigations reveal he’s been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg and 250mg, all of which are illicit.

“Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria. This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.

“Ukatu came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos.

“The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18million and N20million a carton in Lagos.

“After the arrest of Ukatu’s staff: Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete, Kyari’s men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team. The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3billion.

“Three weeks after the seizure, the Kyari’s IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for. After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022.

“Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja.”

The post NDLEA Nabs Suspected Drug Baron Linked To Abba Kyari appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

According to a statement released by the agency on Sunday, the cartel sells drugged cookies, cakes, brownies and all sorts of illicit substances to residents of Abuja and beyond, using the cyber space as its platform.

“Five members of the organised drug criminal group were arrested during sting operations carried out between Friday 7th May and Saturday 8th May, 2021 by officers of the FCT Command of the Agency during which different brands of illicit drugs were recovered from them.

“The nabbed drug dealers include Queen Nvene, Collins Ozoemena, Samson Peter, Chika Nvene, and Habila Musa. The group specialises in clandestine production of drug based cookies, brownies and other edibles; markets and sells same online, through their Twitter and Instagram handles. They also market and sell all types of marijuana; Arizona, Colorado and Loud, among other illicit drugs, online.

“While Queen Nvene, a graduate of Business Administration, produces drug cookies and brownies and sells same on Instagram, Collins Ozoemena sells all types of illicit drugs, especially Loud and skunk online. Samson Peter on the other hand, is the manager of SK express courier company, who manages motorcycles and dispatch riders to deliver illicit drugs from Collins and drugged edibles (cookies, cakes and brownies) from Queen and Chika, both sisters.

“Members of the cartel operate from different locations within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, but operate as a network.Their arrest followed online orders of drug-based edibles by undercover agents.

“Supplies of brownies and cookies were delivered and received from different SK Express dispatch riders at various times by narcotic operatives before the final sting operation.

“According to the Commander, FCT Command of the Agency, Mohammed Malami Sokoto, follow up raids of their various locations in Gudu, Kubwa, Lokogoma, Apo and Damangazo all in Abuja, led to the seizure of some illicit substances.
Seized from Queen include; 55 pieces of drugged cookies and brownies; 1.3 kilogrammes of skunk used as ingredient for making cookies and brownies, while 0.9 grammes of ecstasy, popularly called molley, 300 grammes of skunk, and 200 grammes of Loud were recovered from Collins. Also, 300 grammes of skunk were seized from Chika.

“Other items recovered from the syndicate include: a dispatch motorcycle, various equipment for producing cookies and brownies, 10 telephone handsets and two laptops used for online drug trafficking transactions.

“Under interrogation, the suspects confessed to have a large platform of customers who order for drugs and drug based cookies, brownies and edibles, on daily basis for parties and ceremonies, in and outside Abuja. They said they use the manager of SK Express courier company to deliver their products through motorcycle riders and power bikers popularly called droppers.They further claimed they have been in the business for over three years.

“Meanwhile, operatives of the Ondo state Command of the Agency have intercepted and seized 60kilogrammes of cannabis following intelligence. In the process, a 29-year-old Emmanuel Utaji was arrested at the location on Matado street, Akure, Akure South local government area.

“Acting Commander of the Agency in the state, Callys Alumona disclosed that the location was raided at about 9:45pm and the suspect arrested when the consignment was to be evacuated and taken outside the state.

“In the same vein, a drug dealer and suspected armed robber, Sanusi Abdullahi has been arrested by officers of the Rivers state Command at Iroko village, where 15.8 kilogrammes of skunk and 16 sim cards were recovered from him on Saturday.

“The state Commander, Rachael Shelleng, stated that further investigation would unravel other criminal activities perpetrated by the suspect.

“Reacting to the operational feats, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the FCT, Ondo and Rivers Commands of the Agency and charged them not to rest on their oars.

“I’m particularly impressed with the speed with which the officers of our FCT Command disrupted the online drug trafficking cartel that has been ravaging the nation’s capital for over three years and I must commend them and their counterparts in Ondo and Rivers for their recent feats”, Marwa stated on Sunday.

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Marwa’s appointment as the New Director-General of NDLEA was announced on Friday.

Marwa is a retired Nigerian army officer who served as governor of Borno State, and then Lagos State during the military administrations of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha.

Until his appointment, Marwa was the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Drug Abuse.

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