Afemale lawyer identified as Adaobi Nweke, her mum, her boyfriend, some other family members and their herbalist have been arrested for dealing in illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, loud, cannabis sativa and precursor chemicals in Abia State, southeast Nigeria.
It was learnt that the suspects were arrested during a joint operation conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and State Homeland Security around 11 pm on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
A statement signed by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, on Sunday, stated that the illicit drug business was passed on to the female lawyer by her late father.
He said, “In Abia, a joint raid operation between the NDLEA and men of the State Homeland Security at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia around 11 pm on Wednesday 14th February led to the arrest of a female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, 36; her boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola, 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, 65; Dike Okpara, 43, who is herbalist to the family; Chukwudi Abel, 33, member of the family; Amarachi Paul, 18, another member of the family and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan.
“Investigations reveal that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their now late father, Jonathan Nweke. Recovered from them as at the time of their arrest include various quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Loud, Cannabis Sativa and precursor chemical with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.
“Also, attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry to deliver a consignment of 26.2grams of Loud picked in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa state on Monday 12th February was thwarted by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him.
“In the same vein, 54-year-old Dada Adedara was on Wednesday 14th Feb arrested at Dan Bare area of Kano State with 468 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg. Same day, operatives in Ogun state arrested the duo of Kafayat Junaid and Sakirat Osoanu with 13kg cannabis sativa.
“In Kogi state, a suspect, Charles Chike, 45, was arrested by NDLEA operatives in a hotel in Lokoja on Friday 16th Feb. with 290 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 116kg.
“The exhibit was concealed in the boot of a blue Honda Accord car marked Abuja ABC 853 SL, which took off from Ekiti state en route to Abuja. Not less than 227kg of the same substance was recovered from Atoshi camp, Emure-Ile, Owo LGA, Ondo State, while two suspects: John Jonathan and Emmanuel Alex were arrested.”
“In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducted raid operations in the Kubwa area of the FCT during which they arrested Tawa Wasiu, 47, and Iliya Ibrahim, 18, with 10.5kg cannabis, 13.5 grams of diazepam and 2.9 grams of tramadol tablets. Another suspect, Yaro Bala, 27, was arrested on Thursday 15th Feb. with 50.5kg cannabis during a stop and search operation along Abaji/Abuja highway on his way from Auchi Edo state to Paiko, Niger State,” the statement added.
Credit: Sahara Reporters
