The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has confirmed that they have apprehended Ibrahim Momoh, a notorious distributor of illegal substances operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), famously known as Ibrahim Bendel. Momoh, a convict who had escaped prison seven years ago after a drug-related conviction, was finally caught during a raid on his hideout in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja.
Confirming the operation, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that Momoh, previously arrested in 2014 with a substantial quantity of Cannabis sativa, had been serving a sentence before escaping prison custody in 2016.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives raided Momoh’s warehouse located on his poultry farm, seizing a staggering 1,278kg of cannabis, though Momoh was absent. Subsequently, his warehouse manager, Richard Forson Gordon, a 55-year-old Ghanaian, was apprehended, prosecuted, and sentenced to two years in jail.
Following Momoh’s continued evasion, a subsequent raid in the same area led to his arrest with more illegal substances. Additionally, other raids across various regions resulted in multiple arrests and the confiscation of large quantities of illegal substances. Operations in Ekiti State led to the destruction of over 52,000 kilograms of Cannabis sativa, while in Ondo and Ogun States, further arrests and seizures were made.
In a commendation, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the efforts of the FCT, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Ogun, and Imo Commands. He urged heightened vigilance during the upcoming festive season, emphasizing the need to intensify actions against drug cartels while continuing efforts in drug demand reduction.
The series of successful operations mark a significant stride in NDLEA’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking and distribution across the country.