Businessman Apprehended with Tramadol Smuggled Inside Mannequins
Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria – In a significant bust, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Romans, with a substantial quantity of tramadol concealed within full-body mannequins. The discovery was made during a routine patrol along the Oron–Ibaka Road in the Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Romans was apprehended on Friday, January 9, while transporting the mannequins, which he claimed were intended for his clothing business in Cameroon. A thorough search of the cargo by NDLEA officers revealed that the seemingly innocuous display forms had been ingeniously hollowed out and packed with tramadol pills, weighing a total of 5.3 kilograms.
The suspect, who reportedly resides in Cameroon, stated he was returning to his base after the Christmas and New Year holidays when the interception occurred. Investigations revealed that Romans had procured the tramadol in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the intention of trafficking it across the border to Cameroon for sale. The use of mannequins as a sophisticated concealment method highlights the evolving tactics employed by drug traffickers.
This arrest is part of a broader wave of interdiction operations conducted by the NDLEA across various states in the past week, underscoring the agency’s commitment to combating illicit drug trade.
Octogenarian Ex-Convict Rearrested for Drug Trafficking
Adding to the week’s successes, an 80-year-old former convict, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, was rearrested on Saturday, January 10, in Mmanta-Abak village, Abak Local Government Area. Nkanta was found in possession of 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.
This marks Nkanta’s return to criminal activity, as he had previously been convicted and sentenced to two years in prison in 2022 for drug trafficking offenses. Despite his age and prior conviction, the octogenarian appears to have resumed his involvement in the illicit drug trade.
The NDLEA had previously arrested Nkanta on December 14, 2022, leading to his prosecution and subsequent two-year jail term handed down by the Federal High Court in Uyo. However, undeterred by his past incarceration, Nkanta was reportedly back in the drug business. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives successfully tracked and apprehended the repeat offender at his residence.
Major Drug Haul in Oyo State; Multiple Arrests
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives have also made significant inroads, arresting several suspects in Ibadan and seizing a diverse array of illicit substances. The recovered drugs include Colorado, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, Scottish Loud, and skunk.
Among those arrested was Remi Bamidele, a 45-year-old individual also known as “Aluko the Mafia.” A substantial quantity of various cannabis strains, totaling 10.696 kilograms, was recovered from Bamidele, along with two vehicles.
Further operations in the state capital, Ibadan, led to the arrest of Adeola Toheeb, 27, in the Adegbayi area on Friday, January 9. Toheeb was found with assorted quantities of Colorado, Ghana Loud, and skunk. The following day, Saturday, January 10, Habeeb Ali, 29, was apprehended at Ring Road, Ibadan. He was found in possession of 1.264 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, and skunk. Significantly, a sum of N1,307,100 in cash was also recovered from Ali at the point of his arrest, suggesting potential proceeds from drug sales.
Nationwide Crackdown Continues
The NDLEA’s intensified efforts against drug trafficking are not confined to these specific locations. Additional arrests and seizures of cannabis and tramadol have been reported from operations in Edo, Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa states. These ongoing efforts demonstrate the agency’s multi-pronged approach to disrupting drug supply chains and apprehending those involved in the illicit trade across the nation.
