A 36-year-old suspected transborder drug trafficker, Nkem Timothy, alias Auwalu Audu, been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Sokoto State.
Timothy was arrested while trying to cross to Algeria through the Niger Republic with 62 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine weighing 1.550kg, which has an estimated street value of about N1 billion.
The acting state Commander of NDLEA in Sokoto, Bamidele Segun, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, said the illicit drug was neatly concealed inside yoghurt bottles.
Segun said the suspect, who resides in Algeria, was intercepted on a motorcycle around the baggage area at Illela border while trying to cross to Niger Republic
“He was found with an ECOWAS passport with different name written as Auwalu Audu but he gave his real name as Nkem Timothy”, the Commander stated.
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The commander said his men had commenced further investigation to unravel his sponsor and other members of the transborder drug cartel.
“This is a ground breaking feat for us in the Command as seizure of this magnitude of type A drug (cocaine) has never been made in Sokoto Command before”, he added.
“Meanwhile, the Adamawa state Command of the Agency has also arrested one Umar Mohammed with 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 70kg at Lafiya Lamurde area of Adamawa state.
“In his reaction to the seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the two Commands and charged them to remain vigilant and ensure no illict drug goes in or out of their areas of responsibility,” the statement reads.
KangiDaily had also reported how two Nigerian men were sentenced to life in prison and 30 years for drug trafficking by a Phnom Penh Municipal Court sitting in Cambodia.