By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has apprehended a wanted drug baron who operated under the cover of a businessman and hotelier, after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

A statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja said that the suspect was arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA.

Babafemi said that the 42-year-old suspect who was the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd. Was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday, Nov. 15.

He said the suspect was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilograms were recovered.

“Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: $11,600 US dollars; N2,000 British Pounds; 2,200 Euros and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash,” he said.

The NDLEA also stopped an attempt by a drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South LGA, Osun to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk.

Babafemi said that the drugs, which was a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilograms, were intercepted on Tuesday, Nov. 11 by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest.

“Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested.”

In another development, Babafemi said that a total of 1,902.1 kg of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state.

He said that 184.1kg was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon LGA on Nov. 13, and 672kg was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East LGA on Nov. 14.

He said that another 494kg was recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along Benin-Akure road.

He added that a suspect, 45, was arrested the same day, just as another 51 year old suspect was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552kg.

Similarly, four suspects were arrested with 68kg skunk and 3.150kg methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state.

“Another 50-year-old suspect was nabbed with 172kg skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola LGA, Taraba state on Friday, Nov. 14 and a 24-year-old suspect, with 84kg of the same substance at Takum area of the state.

“In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday, Nov. 14, recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola.

“785kg of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.

“Two suspects were on Friday, Nov. 14 arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150kg in Surulere area of Lagos.

“Another suspect was nabbed the same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141kg at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos,” he said.

In another development, in Kwara state, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, Nov. 13 intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway.

Babafemi said that the truck was conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg and 155 cartons of rubber solutions.

“The truck driver was taken into custody,” he said

In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin on Wednesday, Nov. 13 with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested. (NAN)