How 704kg marijuana was found in suspect’s truck – NDLEA

An operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Superintendent Hussaini Gusau on Wednesday narrated to the Federal High Court in Lagos, how marijuana linked to an alleged drug baron Jimoh Suleimon, alias ‘Temo’, was seized.

Gusau who was testifying in the ongoing trial of Suleimon, told Justice Deinde Dipeolu how he and his team made an arrest in 2020 involving 704 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

The witness who was led in evidence in chief by the prosecution counsel, Mrs Teresa Asuquo, while recalling his time at the Apapa Special Area Marine Unit in Lagos, described an arrest made in 2020 involving 704 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

“I received information that people were offloading goods from a boat into a truck,” Gusau said.

The witness, now serving at the Zamfara State Command of the NDLEA, told the court that after alerting his commander, he and his team went to the scene, but the suspects had finished loading and were about to leave.

“We followed them to the gate. They came in three vehicles —a white truck, a Sienna space car, and a Camry.

“As we blocked their exit, the suspects jumped out of their vehicles and tried to escape. We managed to arrest six of them,” Gusau said.

He recounted how he ordered the truck driver, Udoka Felix, to open the truck.

“Udoka claimed that one of the suspects, Ayambele, had chartered the vehicle and that he was just a driver. He, in turn, pointed to Wasiu, another suspect, as the owner of the cargo,” Gusau said.

The witness further stated that when the truck was eventually opened, they found it loaded with dry weed, which we suspected to be marijuana.

During cross-examination by the defence lawyer, Benson Ndakara, Gusau, the fifth prosecution witness, admitted that Sulaimon was not present during the arrest and had never met the defendant before the trial.

“No, the defendant did not sign any of the exhibits tendered by the prosecution,” Gusau confirmed.

Another prosecution witness, Mrs Patricia Afolabi, a forensic analyst with the NDLEA, told the court that a sample of the seized dry weed was sent to her for analysis.

“When I tested the sample, it was positive for marijuana,” Afolabi said.

However, under cross-examination, Afolabi admitted that the defendant did not sign any of the documents related to the test.

When asked if she knew where the sample came from, she replied, “No, I don’t know where the sample was taken from.”

However, the court adjourned the case until Friday, 4, October, 2024, for continuation of trial.

The NDLEA had last Thursday, arraigned Sulaimon on six amended charges, including being a member of a drug trafficking organisation, importing, processing, trafficking, and dealing in 704 kilograms of cannabis sativa (Ghana Loud), as well as concealing illicit funds.

The NDLEA, at the arraignment of the drug kingpin, told the court that Temo and four others namely; Ojo Emmanuel; Wasiu Olayinka Saliu; Taofeek Noah and one Kazeem, all said to be at large, ran a drug trafficking organisation, between 2020 and 2024.

It further said Temo and others now at large engaged in the alleged illegal act between Nigeria and Ghana.

According to the NDLEA, the offences committed contravened Sections 20(1)(g); 14(b); 18(a); 20(i); 11(b), and 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Temo also known as Olowoidigede and Godfather denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.