A 36-year-old suspected transborder drug trafficker identified Nkem Timothy aka Auwalu Audu has been arrested by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while trying to cross to Algeria through Niger Republic with 62 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday, February 28 by the Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Mr Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, the substance which weighed 1.550kg, has an estimated street value of about N1 billion. He said the illicit drug was neatly concealed inside yoghurt bottles.
Babafemi in the statement said the suspect who resides in Algeria, was intercepted on a motorcycle around the baggage area at Illela border while trying to cross to the Niger Republic.
“He was found with an ECOWAS passport with different name written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy” Babafemi stated in the statement read
He said his men had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the transborder drug cartel.
“This is a ground breaking feat for us in the Command as seizure of this magnitude of type A drug (cocaine) has never been made in Sokoto Command before.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa state Command of the Agency has also arrested one Umar Mohammed with 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 70kg at Lafiya Lamurde area of Adamawa state.
In his reaction to the seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the two Commands and charged them to remain vigilant and ensure no illict drug goes in or out of their areas of responsibility” the statement read.