NDLEA Nabs Two Grandpas Who Sell Hard Drugs To Students

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has nabbed Godfrey Orji, an 84-year-old pensioner,  and 75-year-old, Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, a patent medicine dealer, for allegedly  selling illicit drugs to Secondary School Students in Umuahia, Abia State Capital.

The grandpas were arrested in separate operations following intelligence reports linking them to the sale of illicit substances to students and other youths, raising concerns about the growing exposure of teenagers to substance abuse.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, in a statement issued on Sunday stated that Obiora was arrested on June 19 at his patent medicine store located on Club Road, Umuahia.

Babafemi said operatives recovered 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, during a search of the premises.

“Pa Obiora was arrested following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store located at 4, Club Road, Umuahia, where 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered during a search of the premises,” the statement said.

According to NDLEA, Orji, a pensioner, was apprehended, in a separate incident, after he was allegedly caught supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.

Babafemi disclosed that security personnel at the school intercepted the suspect and handed him over to the Police before the case was transferred to the NDLEA.

“Pa Orji, who is a pensioner and also involved in the illicit drug trade, was nabbed by security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, for supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students.

“The guards subsequently handed him and the students over to the Police, who later transferred the matter to the NDLEA,” he stated.

One of the students, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) pupil, reportedly told investigators that Orji regularly supplied him with drugs, some of which he consumed while selling the remainder to fellow students.