NDLEA arrests three with 586kg of Indian hemp in Niger - As FCT prison officials arrest 2 Sisters attempting to smuggle drugs into prison

Bisi Abass

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 3 suspects with fake police uniforms and 586 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp in Niger State.

The agency’s Commander in the state, Mrs Sylvia Egwunwoke, in Minna on Wednesday said that the suspects were arrested with 55 sacks of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis saliva.

She said that the drug was concealed in two Toyota Hilux with registration number NPF 506 IC and another unmarked the vehicle with unmarked plate number at Mokwa town.

She explained that the 3 suspects were in police uniforms.

“Intelligence reports have it that the drugs were brought in preparation for the 2019 general election Investigation ongoing and suspects will soon be charged to court,” she said.

She appealed to members of the public to assist with the required information in apprehending those in the illegal trade.

In a related development, Officers of the Kuje Medium Security Prison in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested two sisters for attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be cannabis and Tramadol into the prison premises.

The prime suspect, identified as Miss Blessing Chinwuba, allegedly concealed the prohibited items in a carton of neatly packed noodles, which she wanted to take into the prison.

She was arrested by vigilant officers at the prison’s gate before she could pass the items to an inmate, John Ifeanyichukwu.

This was contained in a statement by the FCT Prisons Service Command spokesman, Humphrey Chukwuedo, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the prime suspect, who feigned ignorance of the contents of her illegal cargo during interrogation, claimed that the consignment was given to her by her younger sister, Victoria.

Victoria, while corroborating her sibling’s claims, also said she was unaware of the contents of the consignment, which she said she merely collected from a courier service provider.

The two suspects have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.