…Nabs wanted drug baron, intercepts 1330kg cannabis
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has arrested a wanted drug baron, Sami Ashoko, in Nasarawa State and seized 100 bags of illicit drug weighing 1,095.3 kilogrammes meant for Easter sales at his warehouse.
Ashoko, 39, who hails from Ibilo in the Akoko-Edo area of Edo State, was arrested in Shinge, Lafia, in Nasarawa State, based on actionable intelligence.
According to the Commander, Nasarawa State Command of the NDLEA, Justice Arinze, “Sami Ashoko is the most wanted drug baron, who has been on our watch list in Nasarawa state. This seizure has beaten the previous record of 45 bags, weighing about half a ton recovered in January 2021, as the highest singular seizure of cannabis since the inception of the Command in 1999. The seized consignment was meant for Easter sales, and which he expects to sell out in two weeks”.
In a related development, two members of another drug cartel, Adamu Badamasi and Adamu Abba, were also arrested the same day in Iyamho, Etsako-West local government area of Edo State while trying to move 950 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 1,330kgs, procured from Uzeba, Owan-West LGA of the State to Bauchi State for Easter sales.
Commander of the Edo State Command of the agency, Buba Wakawa disclosed that the arrest and seizure disrupted the Easter sales plan of the cartel, which tried to escape arrest through hinterland routes in their white colour Peugeot J-5 space bus.
In the same vein, another trafficker who supplies drugs to some notorious drug joints in Abuja was at the weekend arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, in the FCT while bringing 46 compressed blocks of cannabis for drug dealers in Mabushi and Banex areas of the capital city.
The Commander, FCT Command of the agency, Mohammed Salami Sokoto, said the notorious drug supplier has confessed to being a major supplier of illicit substances to major drug joints in Abuja.
The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), has, in his reaction, commended the officers and men of Nasarawa, Edo and FCT Commands of the agency for their efforts, adding that the drugs seized certainly mean fewer illicit substances available on the streets.
