The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Unit arrested a drug baron, Chidi Olife who escaped arrest 10 years ago.
It said Olife had in June 2010 imported 5.250 kilograms of heroin concealed in books from Karachi, Pakistan to Lagos.
A statement by the anti-drug agency said Olife’s was arrested through a coordinated operation led by the Commander NDLEA’s JTF, Adeniyi Olumuyiwa. It said the operation also led to the arrest of two clearing, Oladimeji Oladotun and Alhaji Danjuma Idris, hired by Olife to clear the consignment.
The statement said: “Upon being arrested, Danjuma was used to effect the arrest of Oke Ningo who Olife contacted to receive the consignment from the agents on his behalf, unfortunately he escaped arrest at the point of receiving the drug as he suspected the person with the clearing agent to be an NDLEA officer.
“Subsequently, the house of Olife was traced to a street in Ajao Estate area of Lagos but before the JTF team could get there he had escaped with all members of his house due to the failed arrest of Ningo.
“The undaunted JTF team of officers placed surveillance on him. Their resilience yielded fruit ten (10) year after as Olife was eventually arrested and he is currently cooling his heels in NDLEA’s custody while a manhunt for Ningo, his criminal associate continues.”
The statement also said the anti-drug agency operatives in Adamawa state also arrested an illicit drug dealer, Rabiu Imam on Friday.
The statement said the state’s Commander of the NDLEA, Idris Bello briefed the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) about the arrest on Saturday.
The statement said Imam was arrested in a house at Unguwan Madina, Mubi North Local Government area of Adamawa State.
Drugs recovered from Imam include: Tramadal tablet (225mg) weighing 45.4kg,
Tramadol capsules 100mg weighing 550grms; and Diazepam tablet 850grms.
The agency put the estimated street value of the seized drugs at over N50 million.
