In a targeted operation on Saturday, November 25, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully raided a lounge in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State. The NDLEA operatives acted on credible intelligence indicating the organisation of a night party named “Unholy Alliance…for Stoners and Drunkards,” where various illicit substances were intended for sale and consumption.
Upon the commencement of the event at Berrymist Lounge in Ofatedo, Osogbo, NDLEA operatives swiftly intervened, apprehending the organisers and confiscating illicit substances along with drug paraphernalia. Among those arrested were Ikotu Omolayo (25), Fola Olabode (30), and Akorede Adunni Ajibola (22). The management of Berrymist Lounge has also been summoned for further investigation.
The raid in Osun follows a previous operation on November 23, where NDLEA operatives recovered 156 kilograms of cannabis sativa from Area 5 forest reserve in Ile-Ife.
In a broader crackdown, NDLEA operatives made significant seizures across various states. Notable incidents include the arrest of suspects Adamu Ibrahim and Nura Sani with 859 kilograms of cannabis sativa along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and the recovery of 338 kilograms of cannabis from a warehouse in Owan West LGA, Edo state.
The agency’s relentless efforts extend to intercepting illegal drug shipments. Two suspects, Afamefuna Ibekwe (37) and Sunday Onweh (41), were found with 135,600 capsules of tramadol and 950 grams of cannabis in Nkpor, Akuzor, and Ose-Ogbaijo, Onitsha.
As part of the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, NDLEA commands nationwide conducted sensitisation lectures in schools and communities. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the recent arrests and seizures. He urged officers to remain vigilant, emphasizing the heightened risk posed by criminal networks seeking to exploit the approaching yuletide season for illicit gains.