Agency Nabs 80-year-Old Ex-convict For Dealing In Illicit Drugs

An 80-year-old grandpa, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dealing in illicit drugs.

This came barely three years after he was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for a similar offence.

Nkanta, known for the illicit drug trade, was first arrested by NDLEA on December 14, 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement that Nkanta, not ready to let go of the old habit, returned to the trade and, following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, January 10, 2025, tracked him to his Mmanta-Abak Village, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, in his residence.

Babafemi said in another interdiction operation in Akwa Ibom state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Oron-Ibaka Road in Oron LGA on Friday, January 9, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full-0body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroun.

“A search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with pills of tramadol weighing 5.3 kilogrammes.

“The suspect claims he resides in Cameroon and was reportedly returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when he was apprehended. It was revealed that he bought the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra State and was trafficking them to Cameroon to sell, using two mannequins to conceal the opioids,” the NDLEA stated.

In Oyo state, raids in different locations led to the seizure of dangerous illicit drugs and the arrest of notorious dealers, including 45-year-old Remi Bamidele (Alias ‘Aluko the Mafia’) at Sasa, Ibadan, where a total of 10.696 kilogrammes of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk, all strains of cannabis.

At the time of his arrest on Thursday, January 8, two vehicles: Toyota Venza and Toyota Yaris marked HG 06 LYD were recovered from him.

At Adegbayi area of Ibadan, the state capital, NDLEA officers on Friday, January 9, arrested Adeola Toheeb, 27, with various quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud and skunk, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring Road, Ibadan with 1.264kg Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk. Also, ₦1,307,100 cash exhibit was recovered from him at the time of his arrest on Saturday, January 10.

A dispatch rider, Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two other suspects: Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were on Friday, January 9, arrested at Ihama/Airport Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State, in connection with the seizure of 118 grammes of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.