NDLEA Arrest 48yrs Old Man, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur Over Drug Peddling

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine.

Cablenews24 reports that Orizu, who owns a shop at Balogun Market in Lagos Island, was intercepted on Sunday, December 22, 2024, during the outward clearance of passengers boarding Air France Flight 844 to Paris, France. He refused a body scan at the airport, citing a medical condition. However, NDLEA operatives took him into custody, and over the next seven days, he excreted 74 wraps of the Class A drugs.

The suspect confessed to being promised €3,000 for successfully delivering the drugs in Paris. He admitted traveling from Lagos to Abuja in an attempt to evade detection.

Lagos Beach Drug Interception

In another operation, NDLEA’s Marine Command intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos. The operation, conducted at 2:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, led to the arrest of six foreign nationals transporting the drugs from Ghana.

The arrested suspects include two Ghanaians—Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33)—and four Beninese nationals: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21).

Arrests in Katsina and Edo States

In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested Ibrahim Shaibu (35) with 40 parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35 kilograms at Central Motor Park on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. Similarly, Umar Ahmed (47) was apprehended with 27 parcels of cannabis weighing 13.5 kilograms along Zaria-Malumfashi Road on Saturday, December 28, 2024.

In Edo State, a 21-year-old suspect, Kosisochukwu Ozigbo, was arrested on New Lagos Road in Benin City during a raid on December 23, 2024. Recovered from him were 32,490 tramadol pills of varying strengths, 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup, and other opioids.

WADA Advocacy Campaigns

As part of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, NDLEA conducted sensitization lectures across schools, markets, worship centers, and communities. In Lagos, the agency collaborated with the Menitos Foundation to educate residents of Akoka, Bariga. In Adamawa, WADA lectures were delivered to members of Jama’atul Nasril Islam during their annual first aid and leadership camping event.

Commendation and Call to Action

NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the efforts of operatives across NAIA, Katsina, Edo, and the Marine Command. He urged them to sustain their momentum in combating drug barons and cartels while intensifying WADA advocacy efforts in 2025.

This report underscores the agency’s commitment to disrupting drug trafficking networks and raising awareness about drug abuse nationwide.

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

December 29, 2024