Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected transborder drug trafficker with large quantity of cocaine estimated to have a street value of one billion naira.
The 36-year-old suspect Nkem Timothy, alias Auwalu Audu was arrested in Sokoto, while trying to cross to Algeria through the Niger Republic with 62 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine weighing 1.550kg.
The Agency’s Head of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said the suspect was intercepted on a motorcycle around the baggage area at Illela border while trying to cross to Niger Republic. His final destination was to be Algeria where he resides.
According to the statement, the illicit drug was neatly concealed inside youghurt bottles carried by the suspect.
“He was found with an ECOWAS passport with different names written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy.”
The operatives led by the acting Commander of the Agency in Sokoto, Segun Bamidele had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the transborder drug cartel.
The statement added that “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 Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the two Commands and charged them to remain vigilant and ensure no illict drug goes in or out of their areas of responsibility.
