In a recent development, three drug kingpins and 16 other offenders have been sentenced to a collective 302 years in prison for their involvement in the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs. The substances involved in these cases include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, cannabis, and opioids, among others.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, revealed in a statement that these convictions were part of a larger crackdown on drug traffickers and dealers across various states including Benue, Bauchi, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This legal action took place between July 1st and 31st, 2024, following thorough investigations and prosecution carried out by the NDLEA.
Among the three kingpins, one individual, Bolanle Dauda, aged 50, was apprehended during a well-coordinated raid by NDLEA operatives in Ibiye, along the Lagos-Badagry expressway. Dauda was intercepted while attempting to transport a large quantity of cocaine, weighing 47.5 kilograms, across the border to Ghana on May 25, 2024. Further investigation led to the discovery of an additional 10kg of cocaine in his residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state. Consequently, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison or a fine of N30 million by Hon. Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Another kingpin, 34-year-old Ikeh Stanley Ifeanyi, was caught at the Idumota market in Lagos Island with a substantial amount of lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl, weighing 6.480kg. The dangerous nature of fentanyl, being 100 times more potent than heroin, was highlighted. Ifeanyi was convicted by Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court Lagos and sentenced to 14 years in prison or a fine of N2 million.
The third kingpin, Christian Anyanwu, was apprehended on November 26, 2022, with 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed within custard tins disguised among cosmetics and food items destined for Brazil via Doha. Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court Lagos sentenced Anyanwu to 16 years in prison, with four years being non-negotiable imprisonment.
Several others were also convicted for drug trafficking offenses, such as Moses Yakubu, Oluosun Okikiol, Chanchan Terpase, and Beauty Gani, who received varying prison sentences for their involvement in the illicit drug trade.