By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 80-year-old grandpa, businesswoman, couple and Chadian woman in Edo, Kogi, Rivers interdiction operations.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Giving the breakdown, Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives in Rivers state arrested an 80-year-old grandpa for dealing in illicit substances.

He said that the Octogenarian was found in possession of 800 grams of skunk at the time of his arrest at Ahoada on Tuesday, July 14.

Meanwhile, a Chadian woman and her Nigerian accomplice were nabbed in Lagos following the seizure of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted in Kogi state on Sunday, July 12.

Babafemi said that the consignment was eventually linked to the two suspects who were traced to Lagos and arrested in the Apapa area of the state.

Similarly, two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.

Babafemi said that the cargoes which arrived at the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them came aboard British Airways flight and Ethiopian Airlines flight on June 24 and July 3 respectively.

“Two cargo agents linked to the shipments were initially arrested following which another suspect who showed up to take delivery of the consignments from a logistics company was also nabbed.

“A 44-year-old businesswoman who is the actual owner of the consignments was eventually arrested on July 7 in collaboration with the Area C Command of the Nigeria Police, Surulere Lagos.

“The suspect who claimed she is into printing business said her friend who lived in Canada introduced her into the criminal trade.

Meanwhile, in Edo state, a couple were last Monday arrested following a raid of their illicit drug warehouse along Sapele road, Benin City.

Babafemi said that 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5kg and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud with a gross weight of 192.67kg were seized.

He quoted the NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Kogi Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have contributed in no small measure to ongoing drug control efforts across the country.

The NDLEA boss however, charged them to remain vigilant at all times. (NAN)