Maritime Security: AIG Garba, Terminal Managers Seal Agreement to Curb Crime Within the Sector

By Raheem Ibrahim

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Maritime Police Command, Mr. Musa Yusuf Garba, and managers of bonded terminals across Lagos State have sealed an agreement to team up in curbing criminal activities within the sector.

Playing host to the managers at the Command Headquarters in Obalende, Lagos, AIG Musa Yusuf Garba emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, through the Maritime Police Command, and terminal managers in fighting crime within the maritime sector.

While reassuring the terminal managers of his consistent support, the AIG reiterated his commitment to an open-door policy that welcomes engagement and dialogue.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Maritime Police, ASP Adebayo Rasheed, the AIG stressed that the responsibilities of the Police extend robustly into the maritime domain, where the protection of lives and property remains paramount.

He, however, warned against any acts of economic sabotage, stating his zero-tolerance stance and readiness to prosecute offenders operating within the maritime space.

This engagement marks a strategic move towards strengthening partnerships that ensure lawfulness, security, and sustainable economic activities in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Drug War: 3 Female Ghanaians, 60-Year-Old Grandma Nabbed, Illicit Drug Consignments Worth N1.042 Billion Recovered During NDLEA Operations in Some States

By Raheem Ibrahim

No fewer than three Ghanaian ladies have been apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos, while attempting to smuggle a combined 4.8 kilograms of “Ghana Loud,” a strong strain of cannabis, into Nigeria.

The suspects, identified as Haziza Zubairu (42), Samirat Mustapha (43), and Jamila Salifu (26), were arrested on Sunday, 20th April, at the Gbaji checkpoint by NDLEA operatives.

Similarly, in Kano, a 60-year-old grandmother, Safiya Shamsu, was nabbed on Friday, 25th April, at Samegu area of Kumbotso LGA with 5.6 kilograms of skunk, another strain of cannabis. Another suspect, Muntari Labaran (35), was also taken into custody following the seizure of 100 litres of codeine syrup from him at Yelwa area of Dala LGA.

Confirming the arrests, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, revealed that anti-drug operatives also raided a Lagos hotel, recovering illicit drug consignments valued at N1.042 billion.

“Intercepts over 2 million pills of tramadol in Kano and Jigawa; another Saudi-bound cocaine shipment hidden in body cream; arrests 3 Ghanaian ladies for cross-border trafficking,” he added.

According to him, “An 80-room new hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, used as a cover for distributing illicit substances, was raided by operatives of the NDLEA. After hours of combing through the rooms, they recovered 589 bags of Canadian Loud, weighing a total of 417.3 kilograms and worth One Billion Forty-Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,042,500,000) in street value.”

At least three suspects — Eze Ayitu, Ofuokwu Samuel, and Emmanuel Ameh — were arrested during the operation at the five-storey hotel building between Friday, 25th, and Saturday, 26th April 2025, while two others, Noble Philip and his partner Kenneth, remain at large.

Items suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trade were recovered from the premises.

Operatives raided Hook Hotel, also known as Caesar Hotel and Caesar Lounge, located at 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, recovering:

•Toyota Prado Landcruiser Jeep (Lagos AKD 472 OZ)

•Toyota Sienna Vehicle (Lagos KJA 79 HJ)

•Volkswagen Delivery Van (Lagos AAA 525 JE)

•Kia Cerato Car (Lagos BDG 860 GQ)

•Grand Caravan Dodge (Lagos APP 847 YF)

•74 new TV sets

•10 used TV sets

•13 refrigerators, among other items.

In another major interdiction in Jigawa State, with a follow-up operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence seized consignments of opioids being moved from Kano to Niger Republic and Yobe State through Jigawa.

The psychoactive substances were being transported in a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked ABJ 182 NW at about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 23rd April, along the Kano-Ringim road in Gumel town. Anti-narcotic officers intercepted the vehicle and arrested two suspects: Abba Ibrahim (28) and Shuaibu Umar (29).

Recovered from the Sienna were 200,000 pills of tramadol (250mg) and 217,500 capsules of pregabalin.

A swift follow-up operation in Kano led to the arrest of the supplier, 41-year-old Jamilu Muhammad, at his residence in Mil Tara, Layin Technical area of Kano, where additional 1,584,000 pills of tramadol (250mg) were discovered, stacked inside a Nissan 18-seater bus (marked DAL 372 XA) and a room in his house. This brings the total number of recovered opioids to 2,001,500 pills.

Babafemi added: “Barely a week after NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) uncovered 20 parcels of cocaine concealed inside religious books bound for Saudi Arabia at a logistics company in Lagos, operatives have again intercepted another shipment of 46 wraps of cocaine weighing 547 grams hidden in body cream destined for the Middle East. The seizure was made on Wednesday, 23rd April, at a courier firm in Lagos. Another consignment intercepted the same day included 1.8 kilograms of pentazocine injection and 60 grams of bromazepam tablets heading to Canada.”

Additionally, a total of 3,814.9 kilograms of skunk was destroyed on two farms in Ugbodu community, Ovia North East LGA, Edo State, on Thursday, 24th April, when NDLEA operatives raided the plantations. Three suspects — Samuel Samson (26), Daniel Peter (20), and Abel Edah (31) — were arrested.

The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaign by NDLEA Commands also continued across the country last week. Activities included sensitization lectures at Dan-Doro Community Arabic Secondary School, Doro, Katsina; St. James Anglican School, Badariya, Kebbi; Federal Government Girls College, Tambuwal, Sokoto; and with members of the Oganiru age grade in Onitsha, Anambra. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Strategic Command of the NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, among others.

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