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US Customs Seize Four Tons Of Marijuana Worth $2.3m Hidden Among Peppers

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US Customs officers have seized nearly four tons of marijuana worth $2.3 million hidden in a consignment of jalapeno peppers.

Customs and Border Protection disclosed that a  sniffer dog alerted officers to a trailer with a shipment of peppers in San Diego on the border with Mexico on Thursday.

The CBP statement explained “a 37-year-old male Mexican citizen entered the port of entry driving a tractor pulling a trailer with cargo manifested as jalapeno peppers.”

Officers at Otay Mesa cargo facility found 314 packages of marijuana weighing 7,560 pounds (3.4 tonnes) mixed among the jalapeno peppers.

“I am proud of the officers for seizing this significant marijuana load,” said Otay Mesa Port director Rosa Hernandez.

The acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mark Morgan also shared image of the seized marijuana on his verified Twitter handle.

He hailed the officers for a job well done.

It was the second large haul of marijuana at the facility in days.

Officers seized 10,642 pounds of the drug in a shipment of plastic auto parts at Otay Mesa on Tuesday.

CBP has seized 113 tons (103 tonnes) of marijuana so far this year, along with 41 tons of cocaine and 27 tons of methamphetamine.

In July authorities seized nearly 20 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $1 billion from a ship at the port of Philadelphia in one of the largest drug busts in US history.

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Crime & Court

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine Concealed in Prayer Beads, Locally Made Shoes

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a shipment of cocaine ingeniously concealed within prayer beads and locally made shoes, foiling an attempt to traffic the illicit substance.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.

Babafemi, who shared images of the seized contraband on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the act, especially in the holy month when religious devotion takes precedence.

“In this holy month, when people are consecrating themselves and making supplications to their God, some persons were preoccupied with concealing cocaine in prayer beads and locally made shoes to desecrate the precincts of the holy land in the holy month,” he stated.

He further noted that vigilant NDLEA operatives intercepted the illicit shipment, preventing the traffickers from executing their plan.

The anti-narcotics agency has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, especially methods that exploit religious items and sacred periods to evade detection.

As investigations continue, the NDLEA reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug-related crimes and ensuring that traffickers face the full weight of the law.

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Crime & Court

Church Member Arrested for Kidnapping Two Catholic Priests in Adamawa

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Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 34-year-old church member in connection with the kidnapping of two Catholic priests.

The Command’s spokesman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Suleiman Yahaya-Nguroje, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday. He revealed that the victims—Reverend Fathers Abraham Samman of the Catholic Diocese of Yola and Mathew David Dusam of the Jalingo Diocese—were rescued unharmed after police operatives stormed a criminal hideout.

According to Yahaya-Nguroje, the suspect was apprehended in Gweda Mallam village, a border community between Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas of Adamawa State. He was found with a locally fabricated gun, a mobile phone, and a SIM card. The kidnapped priests were discovered tied up at the location.

He noted that the operation was carried out following a tip-off, prompting officers to embark on a rescue mission across criminal hideouts in the state. The spokesman emphasized that no ransom was paid to secure the priests’ release.

“The success of this operation is a result of the renewed action plan introduced by the Commissioner of Police, CP Morris Dankwbo, which has strengthened efforts in tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state,” Yahaya-Nguroje stated.

Following their rescue, the two priests were taken to a medical facility for treatment, while the suspect remains in police custody for further investigations and prosecution.

Expressing gratitude for the support received from the state government, security agencies, and members of the public, CP Dankwbo urged residents to remain vigilant and continue assisting law enforcement agencies in combating crime.

The Adamawa State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, calling for sustained collaboration in the fight against criminal elements.

 

 

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EFCC Chair Warns Greedy Politicians Against Looting LG Funds

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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has issued a stern warning to politicians embezzling local government funds, vowing that they will not be spared by the anti-graft agency.

Olukoyede made this declaration on Wednesday while addressing activists, traditional rulers, and local government officials at the Gombe State Local Government Summit in the North-East state.

His remarks come on the heels of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that granted full financial autonomy to local governments, ensuring direct allocation of funds to the third tier of government. He urged the 774 local government chairmen across Nigeria to utilize the increased financial inflow for strategic developmental projects that will benefit their communities.

“Even though you may have financial autonomy, you must also remember that you don’t have constitutional immunity,” Olukoyede stated. “The application of your resources will be strictly monitored, not only by anti-corruption agencies but also by the state government. It is in the interest of the state government to ensure that local government funds are responsibly and judiciously utilized for developmental projects.”

The EFCC chairman emphasized the need for local government officials to embrace transparency and accountability, noting that effective governance at the grassroots level depends on adherence to financial regulations and public finance management principles.

He further called for the proper functioning of the legislative arm of local governments, lamenting that many council lawmakers fail to carry out their duties. “We have observed that in several areas, the legislative units of the local governments neither sit nor work as required,” he said.

Olukoyede stressed that without a proper system of checks and balances, local government chairmen would continue to act as sole administrators, a situation he described as detrimental to due process and accountability.

“You are not sole administrators; you are local government chairmen,” he reminded them. “To build an accountable system at the local level, we must start with ensuring that council leaders are in tune with laws governing public finance and that they comply fully.”

 

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