Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu, and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The development was revealed by the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, detailing the weekly arrests of suspects and drugs seized by the anti-narcotics agency.

Babafemi noted, “NDLEA officers on patrol around the Opolo area of Yenagoa had on Sunday, March 10, 2024, intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi, and recovered 200 grammes of chin-chin produced with cannabis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the hairdresser, Josephine, who distributes the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.

“A search of the salon also led to the recovery of 3.00 kilogrammes, bringing the total weight of the illicit substance seized from the duo to 3.2 kg.

“Investigations reveal that they distribute the chin-chin, often laced with cannabis and tramadol, to students and at birthday parties. While Edesemi handles the delivery to buyers, Josephine is a major distributor to a wanted suspect who produces the drugged chin-chin.”

The statement further stated that NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State on Wednesday, March 13, arrested two wanted suspects: Ajim Samuel (aka Boss), 30, and Davidson Joshua (aka Dantala), 36, while on their way from Onitsha, Anambra State, where they had gone to buy a consignment of tramadol containing 14,428 pills of the opioid which they tucked in the body compartments of their black Honda Civic car marked YLA 623 SL.

They were nabbed on the Numan-Jalingo Road. Also recovered from them were 21 grammes of cannabis and monetary exhibits totalling N19,280.

In Osun State, a commercial bus driver, Ogunleye Adegoke, 49, was arrested on the Gbongan-Ibadan Road after NDLEA operatives discovered 2,000 capsules of tramadol, 60 tablets of Rohypnol and 10 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in the spare tyre compartment of his vehicle.

Meanwhile, a total of 343,000 pills of opioids were seized by NDLEA officers from a suspect, Lawan Abubakar, 33, in Azare town, Katagum, Bauchi State on Friday, March 15, as the Nigerian Army transferred a suspect, Muhammadu Rabi’u, 37, with 64,000 pills of tramadol recovered from him to the Bauchi State command of the NDLEA on the same day.

Babafemi added, “At least, 24 kg of cannabis was seized from the driver of a transport company, Ikechukwu Obialo, at Sagamu Interchange, Ogun State by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, March 13, while in Kano, two suspects: Ali Amadu, 27, and Adamu Hassan, 33, were nabbed with a total of 125.3kg cannabis; 3,400 pills of tramadol; and 30 bottles of codeine syrup.

“They were arrested on Monday, March 11, at Gadar Tamburawa area, and Friday, March 15, at Tsamiya Babba, Hotoro respectively.

“While 118kg of cannabis was recovered from a warehouse in the Masaka area of Nasarawa State on Saturday, March 16, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Thursday, March 14, arrested a suspect, Kole Samuel, 50, with 75kg of the same psychoactive substance at market area, Otuo, Owan East LGA. Same day, operatives raided the Oloma-Okpe forest in the Akoko Edo LGA where they destroyed 3,944.2075kg of cannabis on 1.577683 hectares of farmland.”