NDLEA busts trans-border dr¥g cartel, arrests 4 members in Onitsha and Keffi
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four members in intelligence-led operations during which multi-million-naira worth of tr+madol p+lls concealed in the bumper and false bottom of sienna buses heading to border towns were recovered.
This was revealed in a signed statement by the agency’s Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Following weeks of intelligence and surveillance operations by operatives of the Directorate of Intelligence in NDLEA, a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 ** was intercepted at Nasarawa- Toto road, Keffi, Nasarawa state on Tuesday 27th January 2025 at 6am.
Two suspects: Zahradeen Adamu, 27 and Abubakar Usman, 44, were arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state enroute Yola, Adamawa state. A second Sienna bus driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also intercepted.
During a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumper where a total of 190, 960 p+lls of tr+madol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.
Investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra state-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri was the supplier of the seized tr+madol consignment. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of Mbaeri at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on 29th January. Two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 ** were recovered from his house.
