NDLEA Scores Big: Couples, Foreigners Jailed In Drug Crackdown

In a sweeping series of high-profile convictions and asset forfeitures, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured landmark judgments across Lagos, Kano, and Enugu, dealing a major blow to local and international drug trafficking syndicates.

On Monday, August 4, 2025, Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8, Lagos, sentenced businessman Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, to a combined 22.5 years in prison for unlawful dealing and storage of 414.2kg of cannabis sativa.

The couple was first arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 13 in the Ojo area of Lagos with 277.5kg of “skunk,” a potent strain of cannabis, and later transferred to NDLEA. A subsequent raid on their residence on July 1 yielded another 231kg of the same drug.

Justice Dipeolu convicted Mrs. Rosemary on three counts and sentenced her to 17 years without the option of a fine. Her husband, Johnson, was sentenced to five years on count one and six months with a ₦1 million fine on count four. Additionally, ₦3,407,000 recovered from the couple was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

In Kano, Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court convicted a 42-year-old Indian woman, Neetu Neetu, for importing 11kg of heroin disguised as chocolates through Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Neetu arrived via Qatar Airways from Bangkok, with intelligence-led search revealing the narcotics sealed in wafer wraps. She was sentenced to 10 years with an option of ₦2 million fine.

Also in Kano, Angolan businessman Mbala Dajou Abuba was sentenced by Justice Mohammed Yunusa to a five-year imprisonment after ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829kg in an attempt to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

Meanwhile, in Enugu, the Federal High Court convicted drug mule Eze Christian Ikenna for trafficking 11.2kg of cocaine concealed in herbal tea sachets. Arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport on January 20, 2023, Ikenna was sentenced to six years by Justice M.G. Umar, with both counts to run concurrently from May 2023.

Beyond convictions, the NDLEA secured a major forfeiture in Lagos, reclaiming an 80-room hotel and lounge located at No. 16 Waziri Ibrahim Street, Victoria Island. The property, used as a front for drug distribution, was raided between April 25 and 26, yielding 589 bags of Canadian Loud — a cannabis strain — weighing 417.3kg and valued at over ₦1.04 billion.

Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala granted the final forfeiture of the property and additional assets including luxury vehicles, electronics, and cash, via motion number FHC/L/MISC/447/2025 filed by the NDLEA.

Reacting to the developments, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the synergy between the agency and the judiciary.

“Nothing serves the cause of justice more than when criminal elements are handed long jail terms and stripped of proceeds of crime. These pronouncements encourage our officers and serve as strong deterrents to others,” Marwa stated.

With these string of convictions and asset forfeitures, the NDLEA continues to fortify Nigeria’s war against narcotics and its traffickers.

For more updates, visit fasnewsng.com
Email: [email protected]

By Fikunmi Sokoya