NDLEA busts snake-guarded shrine stocked up with drugs in Benin City

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a shrine guarded by a snake, used for storing illicit drugs, in Igor community, Benin City, Edo State.

According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, operatives found a specially constructed hole hidden behind wallpapers and adorned with fetish objects during a raid. The hole contained various quantities of methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona strains of cannabis, totaling 8.743 kilograms.

During the intelligence-led operation last Tuesday, two women, Sonia Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested after the black snake guarding the shrine was neutralized.

Additionally, two men, Obi Ferguson (45) and Ernest Abanum (46), were arrested on Saturday in Usen forest, Ovia South West local government area of Edo State. The operatives recovered 209 kilograms of cannabis and a motorcycle.

In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a package containing 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in the Mazamaza, Ojo area. The substance, also known as ice or crystal meth, was hidden in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and the casing of three loudspeakers. Michael Odiomume (39), who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was arrested last Wednesday.

In Abuja, operatives intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle with fake registration of a security agency at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT. The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8 kilograms, procured from Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old man, Francis Omofa, who claimed to have been involved in the illicit drug trade for 10 years, was arrested.

Babafemi also highlighted that NDLEA commands across the country have continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers of the Edo, Lagos, and FCT commands for their efforts. He urged them to maintain their offensive against drug cartels and continue their social advocacy campaign against drug abuse.

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