Drug Baroness, 4 Other Kingpins Arrested As Nigerian Narcotic Agency, NDLEA Busts 3 Syndicates In Lagos (Photos)

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Drug Baroness, 4 Other Kingpins Arrested As Nigerian Narcotic Agency, NDLEA Busts 3 Syndicates In Lagos (Photos)

A drug baroness and four kingpins in Lagos State, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

It also recovered 2.7 million pills of Tramadol and other illegal substances in the state.

This is contained in a press statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy.

According to the statement, three major illicit drug syndicates were taken down by NDLEA personnel following intelligence-led operations across the state, leading to the arrest of a baroness and four other kingpins and the recovery of multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine, opioids, and Loud from their hideouts.

Faith Ebele Nwankwo, the female leader of one of the syndicates, was arrested on Wednesday, August 9 in her Festac home in Lagos shortly after she reportedly returned from a warehouse at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, where she loaded eight cartons of tramadol 225mg into an unmarked white Honda Pilot SUV.

According to the agency, two million seven hundred and fifty thousand (2,750,000) pills of Tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg packaged in 39 boxes weighing 1,916 km were found in her home and warehouse. The narcotics and one SUV were recovered, and the suspect was apprehended.

The statement reads: “In another operation targeted at a group of transnational syndicate involved in importation, exportation, distribution, and dealing in Cocaine and Canadian Loud, operatives of the same Special Unit of the Agency on Friday, 4th August tracked the drug syndicate to Atlantic Nominee Estate in Lekki- Ajah area of Lagos where a blue Toyota Highlander SUV was loaded with 8.49kg of cocaine and 10.3kg Canadian Loud for distribution by the duo of Nurama Chinemelum Precious, 32, and Adelakun Ilelabayo Oluade, 55.

“A follow-up operation at the residence of Chinemelum at House 7, Road 7, Lagra estate, Eti-Osa, Lagos led to the recovery of additional 18 blocks of Loud weighing 18.5kg.

“The following day, Saturday, 5th August, operatives of the Special Unit went after another syndicate involved in importation, distribution and diversion of ephedrine hydrochloride, a precursor chemical used for the production of methamphetamine, following intelligence that members of the cartel were planning to divert 25 kilograms of the substance.