The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notable producer of new psychoactive substance, popularly called Akuskura, Qasim Ademola, with 26, 600 bottles of the illicit substance meant for distribution across Northern states.

The consignment was seized on Thursday along Zaria-Kano road, Gadar Tamburawa in Kano State while the 39-year-old producer from Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State and three of his distributors were later arrested.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, made this known via a statement issued on Sunday.

Babafemi added that the NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Okene-Abuja expressway, on Saturday, intercepted a J5 vehicle coming from Onitsha enroute Kaduna-Zaria with 18 pieces of pump action rifles and 1,300 cartridges in Kogi State.

He said the two suspects conveying the arms and ammunition, Chukwudi Aronu, aged 51, and 23-year-old Shuaibu Gambo, were also arrested.

He stated that another suspect, Anthony Agada, aged 37, conveying 1,000 cartridges, was equally nabbed in a bus coming from Onitsha to Abuja on Saturday, while 1,404 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,040 ampoules of pentazocine injection were seized from another vehicle coming from Onitsha enroute Sokoto.

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The NDLEA spokesman said the receiver, Stanley Raymond, aged 39, and the 46-year-old sender, Shadrack Ifediora, were arrested in follow-up operations in Sokoto and Anambra states, respectively.

Babafemi added that a drug dealer, Mohammed Mustapha Dalhatu, popularly known as Dawa, was arrested at Sabon Gari Zaria area of Kaduna State with eight bags of cannabis sativa weighing 67kg.

He stated that another suspect, Maikudi Hassan, was arrested at Gubuci village of Ikara LGA of the state with five bags of cannabis weighing 54.2kg.

“On Thursday 15th September, operatives also arrested Mary Ugwu and Hawwa Idi, at Anchau town, Kubau LGA with 721 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 37,000 tablets of exol-5 and nine ampoules of diazepam injection as well as 6.8kg of rubber solution.

“In Edo, operatives recovered 285kg cannabis in two raids at Okpuje, Owan West LGA, on Friday 16th Sept, while in Lagos, 972.5kg of the same substance was recovered from an electronic shop at Alaba Int’l market and one of the suspects, Mrs. Ebere Aja, 38, arrested.

“No less than 335.1kg of cannabis was also seized in a raid at Kwanar Kundum area of Bauchi town, with two suspects: Usman Garba and Najib Ibrahim, arrested.

Speaking on the arrests and seizures, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the anti-drug agency officers for their vigilance and resilience.

Marwa equally charged them and others across the country to remain focused as they daily discharge their responsibilities.

The Star