The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has declared a Port Harcourt-based popular prophetess and founder of Christ Power Adoration Ministries, Faith Ugochi, and a celebrity couple – Igho Ubiribo and Danielle Simba Allen – wanted for recruiting teenage girls into drug trafficking while serving as the arrowheads of an international syndicate operating from Los Angeles in the United States.

The NDLEA made the declaration via a statement issued on Sunday, April 2 by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to Babafemi, the lid was blown off the cartel when NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State intercepted a consignment of 32.70 kilograms of Loud, a strong variant of cannabis concealed in cartons of used wears on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.

The NDLEA spokesperson stated that a freight agent, Ukoh Ifeanyi Oguguo, was immediately arrested while further investigations led to the arrest of four more suspects – Chikodi Favour, Obiyom Shalom Chiamaka, Nnochiri Chidinma Promise, and Edward Omatseye well known as Montana.

He noted that 15-year-old Favour was the first sales girl to be arrested at a fuel station in the Ajah area of Lagos, adding that she led the NDLEA operatives to a duplex accommodation around the Ikate area of Lekki, which was later discovered to be a rented apartment by the criminal group purposely for four young girls that the syndicate uses for marketing and distribution of illicit drugs.

Babafemi revealed that another girl, Chiamaka, who is a fresh graduate of Agricultural Science from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was arrested at the house alongside Favour.

“During their preliminary interviews, it was learnt that the syndicate rented another building used as drugs warehouse inside Richmond Estate, Lekki.

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“By the time operatives located the house, it was discovered that other members of the syndicate had broken into the store and carted away bags of illicit substances,” he said.

The NDLEA spokesman disclosed that some illicit drugs paraphernalia including sealing machine, bloating machine, and packaging bags were recovered from the warehouse, adding that a follow-up operation led to the arrest of Edward Omatseye at his residence around the Lekki area of Lagos State.

He revealed that Edward confessed during an interview to be working for Igho and his wife, who were identified as the overall heads of the criminal group.

Babafemi noted that Favour and Chiamaka were recruited as salesgirls in the illicit drug trade by the prophetess using her church platform to recruit teenage girls brought to her for help on behalf of the celebrity couple, who are the owners of the business.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that Omatseye coordinated the illicit drug trade activities for them in Nigeria, with Promise as representative of Ben Cargo Ltd, a freight company responsible for the shipment of illicit consignments into the country.

He said Promise and Omatseye have already been charged to court and are currently facing trial at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos alongside Ben Cargo Ltd, noting that a freight company which had been linked to two previous drug seizures and also involved in the current case, the prophetess, Ubiribo, and Allen failed to submit themselves to NDLEA for questioning.

Babafemi revealed that the suspects moved all funds traced to their company, Lasgidi Backwood Limited, where all proceeds from the sales of illicit drugs were deposited into a private account of one Victor Imagoro.

He said the NDLEA has since blocked the sum of N80 million traced to the account and obtained a court order to seize all properties including a fuel station linked to the suspects in Lagos and Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that the anti-drug agency has further sought and obtained an order of the Federal High Court Lagos to declare the celebrity couple wanted.

Commending the anti-narcotic officers, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), assured that no effort will be spared to ensure the fleeing suspects are brought to face the consequences of their action.

Marwa also commended the NDLEA officers for their resilience, professionalism, and excellent synergy with other security agencies in their areas of responsibility.

The NDLEA boss also charged the officers and their colleagues across the country to continue to raise the bar in their daily attainments.

The Star