Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu, and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for their involvement in selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
News About Nigeria reports that the arrest was disclosed by the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement released on Sunday.
According to Babafemi, NDLEA officers intercepted Edesemi on Sunday, March 10, around the Opolo area of Yenagoa and recovered 200 grammes of chin-chin produced with Cannabis sativa, which he intended to deliver to a buyer.
Following the interception, a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of Josephine, who was identified as a distributor of the drugged chin-chin from the salon where she works in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa.
A search of the salon resulted in the recovery of an additional 3.00kg of the illicit substance, bringing the total weight seized from the duo to 3.2kg.
Investigations revealed that the duo distributed the drug-laced chin-chin, often containing cannabis and tramadol, to students and at social events.
While Edesemi handled the delivery to buyers, Josephine served as a major distributor for a wanted suspect involved in producing the drugged chin-chin.
In addition to the arrests in Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa State apprehended two wanted suspects, Ajim Samuel and Davidson Joshua, who were intercepted along the Numan-Jalingo road.
The suspects were found in possession of 14,428 pills of tramadol and 21 grammes of cannabis.
“They were nabbed along the Numan-Jalingo road. Also recovered from them were 21 grammes of cannabis and monetary exhibits totaling N19,280,” Babafemi said.
