It was indeed a bleak Easter for the most wanted drug baron in Nasarawa state, Sami Ashoko as he did not only spend the festive season in custody, but also his warehouse filled with skunk was also raided and 100 bags of the illicit drug weighing 1095.3kg was seized.
Same fate also befell members of another cartel who were arrested in Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State and their illicit consignment weighing 1330kg meant for Bauchi State was equally seized.
Both syndicates were busted on Friday while trying to distribute their illegal substances for the Easter sales.
In Nasarawa, Ashoko, 39, who hails from Ibilo in Akoko Edo area of Edo State, was arrested in Shinge, Lafia based on actionable intelligence.
A team of operatives had stormed his warehouse in Lafia and recovered 100 bags of cannabis weighing about 1095.3 kg.
According to the Commander, Nasarawa State Command of the NDLEA, Justice Arinze, “Sami Ashoko is the most wanted drug baron who has been on our watch list in Nasarawa State.”
“This seizure has beaten the previous record of 45 bags weighing about half ton recovered in January 2021 as the highest singular seizure of cannabis since the inception of the Command in 1999.”
“The seized consignment was meant for Easter sales, and which he expects to sell out in two weeks.” Arinze stated.
In a related development, two members of another drug cartel, Adamu Badamasi and Adamu Abba were also arrested same day in Edo State while trying to move
950 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 1330kg, procured from Uzeba, Owan West Local Government area of the state to Bauchi State for Easter sales.
Commander of the Edo State Command of the anti-drug law enforcement agency, Buba Wakawa disclosed that the arrest and seizure disrupted the Easter sales plan of the cartel, which tried to escape arrest through hinterland routes in their white colour Peugeot J5 space bus with registration number Lagos JJJ 722 XC.
In the same vein, another trafficker who supplies drugs to some notorious drug joints in Abuja was at the weekend arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT while bringing 46 compressed blocks of cannabis for drug dealers in Mabushi and Banex areas of the capital city.
The Commander, FCT Command of the Agency, Mohammed Sokoto said the notorious drug supplier has confessed being a major supplier of illicit substances to major drug joints in Abuja.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd), in his reaction to the Easter weekend operations, commended officers and men of Nasarawa, Edo and FCT Commands of the Agency for their efforts, adding that the skunk seized is certainly reduced illicit substances available on the streets.