Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of Canadian Loud, a high-potency strain of cannabis, weighing 4,173.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of N10.43bn at the Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The agency said the seizure followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and tracking of the shipment, which originated from Toronto, Canada, on March 28, 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the container was moved by rail to Montreal before being shipped on board the vessel Jakarta Express Voyage, which arrived at Tanger Med Port in Morocco on April 15.

He added that the shipment was later transferred to another vessel, Osaka Voyage, which eventually arrived at the Lagos Port on May 9.

According to the agency, its Marine Intelligence Unit and Tincan Island Strategic Command monitored the consignment for over two months in collaboration with international partners, including the United Kingdom Home Office International Operations, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“The successful interdiction of the illicit drug consignment followed painstaking intelligence gathering, sustained surveillance, and trailing of the container from its point of departure in Toronto,” the statement partly read.

Babafemi said the drugs were eventually seized on Tuesday, May 12, during a joint examination involving NDLEA operatives, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.

He explained that the drugs were concealed inside a used Ford bus and a Mercedes-Benz C300 car loaded within the shipping container.

Speaking during the handover of the exhibits by the Customs Service at the port on Wednesday, NDLEA Director of Seaports Operations, Ibinabo Archie-Abia, said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of inter-agency and international collaboration in combating transnational drug trafficking.

The seizure came just days after NDLEA operatives raided a mansion in Lekki, Lagos, allegedly used as a stash house, where 2,326 kilograms of the same substance, valued at over N5.8bn, were recovered.

Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and vigilance.

Marwa said the repeated interceptions indicated a coordinated attempt by international drug syndicates to flood Nigeria with synthetic cannabis strains.

“This second massive seizure in less than a week is a clear message to international syndicates who think they can use our ports as entry points for their illicit trade. The synergy between NDLEA, Customs, and our international partners is yielding results,” he said.

He added that the agency would continue efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks linked to the shipments and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The Ondo State Police Command on Wednesday said it had deployed operatives to Akotogbo community in Irele Local Government Area of the state following the discovery of the bodies of two residents in a bush within the area.

The deceased, identified as Loyinmi Bode and Andrew Friday, were reportedly found at separate locations within the community in incidents that occurred within a month.

The development has thrown the agrarian community into fear and tension, with residents calling for urgent intervention by security agencies and the state government.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the command was aware of the situation and had taken steps to restore calm.

“The command is fully aware of these developments and remains resolute in its constitutional mandate of protecting the lives and property of all law-abiding residents of Ondo State,” he said.

He added that robust security measures had been put in place within Akotogbo and neighbouring communities to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“In response, robust security measures have been emplaced within Akotogbo and its adjoining communities to prevent any breakdown of law and order and ensure sustained public safety,” Jimoh said.

The police spokesperson also noted that efforts were ongoing to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the deaths.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Wednesday sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a N33.8bn money laundering and fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The court convicted Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him by the anti-graft agency, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Omotosho ordered that the prison terms would run consecutively and not concurrently, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.

In Count One of the charges, the anti-graft agency stated “That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in 2019… whilst you were the Minister of Power, conspired with other officials of your ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo).”

The EFCC said the crime constituted a criminal breach of trust, “contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The agency further alleged that part of the funds was routed through Bureau De Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies and delivered same to Mamman and his associates.

In Count Two, the EFCC said the former minister, in December 2019, conspired with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of US$665,700.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD, equivalent to about N200m at the time, for a property in Abuja without passing through a financial institution, contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

The judge sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine. He also sentenced him to three years imprisonment on Count Four with an option of N10m fine and two years’ imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.

The judge held that Mamman’s absence in court during judgment and sentencing proceedings was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the administration of justice.

Relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the court agreed with EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), that sentencing could validly proceed despite the defendant’s absence.

Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered all security agencies, including the Interpol, to arrest Mamman wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.

The court ruled that the jail term would commence from the date of his arrest.

The judge also ordered the final forfeiture of recovered funds, foreign currencies and properties linked to the convict, including properties traced to him in Abuja.

He further directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the N22bn the prosecution established was diverted from funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.

Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was initially arraigned in July 2024 on allegations bordering on conspiracy and money laundering involving N33.8bn, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.

Justice Omotosho had on May 7 convicted the former minister in absentia after holding that the EFCC established his culpability beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM