NDLEA Apprehends 75-Year-Old Grandmother for Drug Trafficking

• NDLEA arrests a 75-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, for alleged drug involvement, seizing cannabis and codeine syrup in Lagos
• NDLEA forfeits a multi-million-naira mansion in Lagos used for methamphetamine production, following the conviction of drug baron Okenwa Chris Nzewi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos State has arrested Mrs. Sekinat Soremekun, a 75-year-old grandmother, for her alleged involvement in illicit drug activities. The spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, made this announcement in a statement on Sunday.

During the arrest in the Oshodi area of Lagos, quantities of cannabis and liters of codeine syrup were seized from Mrs. Soremekun. She claimed that her son, Segun, who is currently at large, supplied her with the illicit substances, which she then retailed.

In a separate development, a multi-million-naira mansion located in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) estate, Lekki area of Lagos, was forfeited to the Federal Government. This mansion had been used as a clandestine laboratory for the production of methamphetamine by a convicted drug baron, Okenwa Chris Nzewi. Nzewi and his associate, Sunny Okeh Ukah, were arrested on July 30, 2022, and subsequently convicted.

The NDLEA successfully prosecuted Nzewi, who was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N4 million, and Ukah, who received three years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N3 million. The mansion, as well as Nzewi’s vehicle, marked EKY 496 DJ, were also forfeited to the Federal Government.

In other operations across the country, the NDLEA intercepted a consignment containing cocaine weighing 2.287kg, arrested a suspect named Isaac Okoh, and recovered 10 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 100kgs from the residence of a dealer named Ibrahim Yahaya in Nasarawa State.

Furthermore, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, over 1.5 million pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol were intercepted in a cargo bound for South Africa. Two suspects, Bada Olanrewaju Akorede and Amusan Olufela Sharafadeen, were arrested in connection with the consignment.

In Abuja, the NDLEA intercepted a consignment of 1,496 bottles of codeine syrup, resulting in the arrest of a suspect named Ozioma Enoja. Additionally, another consignment of 400 bottles of codeine syrup was seized along the Abaji-Abuja highway, and a suspect named Bala Ishaq was arrested during a follow-up operation at Zuba motor park.

Various other arrests were made across different states, involving the interception of cannabis and other illicit substances. NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers for their efforts and urged them to intensify their operations against drug cartels, especially as the yuletide season approaches.