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Trans-border drug trafficker arrested in Sokoto with N1b worth of cocaine
*NDLEA nabs another with 70kg of cannabis in Adamawa
“He was found with an ECOWAS passport with different name written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy”, the Commander stated adding that his men had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the trans-border drug cartel.
A trans-border drug trafficker, 36-year-old Nkem Timothy, alias Auwalu Audu has been arrested in Sokoto by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, while trying to cross to Algeria through the Niger Republic with 62 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine weighing 1.550kg, which has an estimated street value of about N1billion.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement he sent to The DEFENDER Sunday.
According to the acting state Commander of NDLEA in Sokoto, Mr. Bamidele Segun, the suspect was intercepted on a motorcycle around the baggage area at Illela border while trying to cross to Niger Republic heading to his final destination in Algeria where he resides. The illicit drug was neatly concealed inside youghurt bottles.
“He was found with an ECOWAS passport with different name written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy”, the Commander stated adding that his men had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the trans-border drug cartel.
“This is a ground breaking feat for us in the Command as seizure of this magnitude of type A drug (cocaine) has never been made in Sokoto Command before”, he added
Meanwhile, the Adamawa state Command of the Agency has also arrested one Umar Mohammed with 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 70kg at Lafiya Lamurde area of Adamawa state.
In his reaction to the seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has commended the two Commands and charged them to remain vigilant and ensure no illict drug goes in or out of their areas of responsibility.
