Crimes

NDLEA arrests 3 blind men for drug dealing

The operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three blind men operating an illicit drug ring between Lagos and Kano.

The lid was blown off the group following the arrest of a 40-year-old blind suspect, Adamu Hassan, along Gwagwalada expressway in Abuja with 12kgs of skunk on his way from Lagos to Kano on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday, November 5, said investigations however revealed that Hassan was oblivious of the content of the bag handed to him to deliver in Kano.

Babafemi noted that another blind member of the syndicate is still at large.

He added that follow-up operations led to the arrest of the 45-year-old leader of the syndicate, Bello Abubakar, who is also blind.

The NDLEA spokesperson stated that Bello who is married with five children, in his statement, said he has been living in Lagos for 30 years but started the illicit drug business five years ago.

Babafemi disclosed that another 59-year-old suspect, Muktar Abubakar, who is equally blind, has been living in Lagos for 40 years and married to three wives with 14 children.

“Both Muktar Abubakar and Bello Abubakar are joint owners of the business, while the third suspect, Akilu Amadu, 25, also blind equally contributes money to the criminal trade and was indeed the one who delivered the consignment to Adamu at the motor park in Lagos to deliver in Kano.

“Another blind suspect who is the expected receiver of the consignment in Kano, Mallam Aminu is currently at large,” he added.

Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives, on Saturday, November 4, stormed the Obada sawmill forest in Owena-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State and arrested a 37-year-old suspect, Monday Sylvester, on a 6.01 hectares of cannabis farm which was destroyed.

The NDLEA spokesman said 489.8kgs already processed plant was recovered from the suspect, adding that the officers of the anti-drug agency also raided a trans-loading point inside Avbiosi forest in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State where 603 kilograms of cannabis were seized.

The Star