Inside Abuja’s hard drugs trade

The Adetokunbo Ademola axis of Wuse 2, Abuja, draws visitors like bees to honey. This night, the well-lit area looked appealing to any fun lover. From a few hundred metres away, one could spot the highbrow Barcelona Hotel, then, a popular supermarket.

Dotting the supermarket are other popular relaxation spots; such as the famous Yahuza Suya, a local food mini-market, a salsa (dance) spot and other relaxation spots for children and adults alike. There was a police van parked adjacent to the supermarket.

It was the close of work and fun lovers were trooping in to let their heads down and relax at different spots. To many residents in the city area of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse 2 is a refuge zone for family and friends after a hectic work day. But what is unknown to a lot of people is that it is also a haven for drug dealers.

The hard drugs’ trade

After discovering the haven about three months earlier, and making discreet connections, our correspondent posed as a drug buyer with tentacles in Lagos.

“Bros, I get SK, hemp and SK. Abi na Charlie (cocaine) you want?” asked one of the dealers as our correspondent walked into their ‘den’ in Wuse 2.

In Abuja, the street names for cocaine are ‘coke,’ ‘crack’ or ‘charlie.’”

“I get ‘Loud’ and ‘SK’,” said another who approached our correspondent from the opposite end.

SK (skunk) is a very potent mix of Indian hemp and other narcotic leaves. SK is one of the most common among drug dealers in Abuja. Users say it is much stronger and more expensive than ordinary hemp and marijuana. The active ingredient in marijuana/cannabis is Tetrahydrocannabinol, which creates the euphoric effect in the user.

Ibrahim (not real name), one of the dealers, walked up to our correspondent.

“Tell your driver to drive away from the supermarket area, especially away from the police van before any business transaction can take place,” he said to me.

Tall, slim and tough looking, he took out a wrap of marijuana and drew in a puff, like his life depended on it.

“How much is SK?” Our correspondent asked.

“N1,500,” Ibrahim said. After a brief bargain, we settled for N1,000. In a flash, he brought out a pack containing five white wraps of sticks and handed it over. His eyes kept scanning the area for any suspicious movement.

Then, he dashed off to get cocaine from another dealer a few metres away. He returned with a wrap and handed it over. “Dis one na coke, raw one. Na correct one, I no get the powder one now,” he said. Inside the wrap were two small white crystals. He sold it for N1,000.

Although SUNDAY PUNCH discovered that cocaine was mostly sold as a white powder, the cocaine can be made, through some chemical process, into “crack” forms, that look like crystals. Users sniff powder cocaine through their nostrils, while the crack forms are smoked.

All entreaties to get his phone number failed.

“When you come tomorrow, just ask for Ibrahim,” he said, declining to give his telephone number, and walking briskly away after he had collected the cash. “Be careful of the police guys, they are the ones in the ash-colour car,” he added.

The police van was parked a few metres away.

The next day, following Ibrahim’s advice, our correspondent drove a few metres past the supermarket and waited to signal any one of the dealers.

Steve (not real name), with deep-set eyes, average height, and innocent-looking, was the first among others to spot the car. A secondary school dropout from Kaduna State, he looked different from Ibrahim, but he also had the trained voice of a drug peddler.

“Bros, I get crack and coke, but make we move fast. I no want the policemen to see me,” he said as the windscreen wound down. The car door opened and he hopped into the back seat.

While we drove out, Steve brought out packs of SK, hemp and cocaine.

Our correspondent bought six sticks of SK.

“I get one gramme (of cocaine) for N20,000, abi which one you need? The powder and raw one (crack)? All na confirm. I get ‘loud’ too, I fit get am for you tomorrow,” he said.

“I have mixed the SK and heroin powder well for you, na correct one,” Steve said, assuring our correspondent that it was the real one.

He showed our correspondent the white powder of cocaine. “This na confirm, he said.”

He sold N3,000 worth of cocaine powder.

He also sold a wrap of ‘loud’ for N2,000. ‘Loud’ is a street name for a mixture of hemp and heroin. The contents were brownish in colour.

Heroin sold on the streets is said to be usually found in other colours such as brown or black due to colouring that comes from additives used to dilute it. However, experts say in its purest form, it is a fine white powder.

Drug users often say the mixture has a more intoxicating effect than ordinary hemp. A National Drug Law Enforcement Agency official told SUNDAY PUNCH that users and dealers devise combination to suit their preferences.

“I mix the heroin well. One wrap is okay for you. You go high, one time. E fit take you 24 hours. SK go only make you high for about four hours.” Steve said.

He added that he got his hard drugs supplies from Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital,

In recent years, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested drug traffickers at both the local and international wings of Murtala Muhammadu Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, which has become a major route for the illicit drugs trade.

In August, an Arik Air crew member, Mr. Chika Egwu Udensi, was apprehended at Heathrow Airport, London, for allegedly smuggling substances, suspected to be 20kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of about N103 million. In 2011 and 2013, two other employees of the airline were arrested at the Heathrow Airport for suspected drug trafficking. Many others have been caught by the NDLEA trying to smuggle hard drugs worth millions into or out of the country.

However, traffickers have become cleverer with their supply and distribution routes. Steve hinted that his supplies came via roads, on vehicles travelling inter-state or inter-city, where there are little or no security checks, and through porous borders of neighbouring countries, such as Niger Republic.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, told SUNDAY PUNCH that while drug traffickers have adopted different methods in moving their drugs from one point to another, the agency had several ways to counter their plans.

He said, “The NDLEA has detected several tricks leading to spectacular arrests and drug seizures. Drugs commonly seized in Nigeria are cocaine, heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine and ephedrine. In addition, there is also currency trafficking. NDLEA officers screen passengers and luggage at airports, seaports and land borders. We have drug detecting equipment as well as sniffer dogs. The agency has discovered drugs concealed in electrical appliances, automobiles, artworks and foodstuff, inside luggage, packed on human body, hair and sometimes ingested.

“Cocaine is usually smuggled from South America particularly Brazil through United Arab Emirates, Addis Ababa, Casablanca and South Africa to Nigeria. From Nigeria, it is smuggled to Europe and Asia. Heroin comes from Pakistan, India and Iran via United Arab Emirates and East Africa to Nigeria. From Nigeria, it is then smuggled to USA and Canada. Methamphetamine is now locally produced in clandestine laboratories.

“The NDLEA had discovered 10 of such illicit methamphetamine production centres since 2011. Methamphetamine is smuggled from Nigeria through Cairo, UAE to Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Mozambique, Hong Kong and China. Ephedrine is smuggled from China and India through UAE and Addis Ababa to Nigeria from where it is smuggled to South Africa. Cannabis is also produced in Nigeria and smuggled through Addis Ababa, UAE to China and Hong Kong.”

Abuja connection

Despite these measures by the NDLEA, the hard drugs market in Abuja still thrives.

Nigeria’s capital since 1991, Abuja FCT, with a population of about two million, and estimated to rise to 10 million in 2018, has grown from a quiet capital to a bustling destination for many Nigerians and tourists alike. Beyond its evident attractions, growing in comparison to other bustling places like Lagos, Abuja’s allure seems to also be fuelled by the perception that, being Nigeria’s political capital, the city is home to the rich and influential.

In the last few years, this allure has become a seeming magnet for hard drugs trade.

Abuja seems to be a ‘fertile’ ground for hard drugs. Other places our correspondent visited were Zone 6, Area 1, Area 4, and Lugbe areas where there is also a boom in the hard drugs trade.

Jane (not real name) is a 22-year-old undergraduate. She lives in Wuse Zone 6. She had once tried cocaine, but now deals in hemp. She said, “I have tasted cocaine before. But I can smoke hemp the whole day. It gets me high, but I am not addicted to it. If I don’t see it, I can manage,” she said, while puffing a wrap containing hemp/marijuana.

While it was not easy to get information from hard drug dealers and users on their ‘business,’ from frequent interactions and transactions over a month, our correspondent became close to some of them, including Steve and Jane.

Two days later, Jane introduced our correspondent to a dealer, who gave his name as, ‘Paulo the don.’ He said he was looking for more work – selling hard drugs, and was not willing to give further information about his trade until our correspondent came with a ‘business’ offer.

“Bros, na sensitive information, make we see one-on-one,” he said and gave his telephone number to contact him.

Sk Wrap

At a less busy street around Zone 4 district, it was a more discreet business of illicit drugs. Our correspondent bought SK for a cheaper price, N500. Although this time, it came in a small, rectangular block pack but the contents appeared the same (dried hemp leaves).

There were a number of dealers present too, and their modus operandi was similar to the ones at Wuse 2 – give a signal and show up. There, our correspondent met dealers, including two brothers, Kabir and Abdullahi (not real names), in their early 30s.

During the day, they were regular traders in small confectioneries; at most nights, they added another product to their sales list: illicit drugs. This they did covertly, like Kabir noted, to add to their meagre income.

Kabir said he introduced Abdullahi to the business and he possessed more street-wise qualities. On the first day at Zone 4, a Friday, our correspondent spotted Kabir and Abdullahi among their group, all involved in drug dealing. Kabir was the first to answer the signal for a trade. Just then, another car with two occupants pulled closer and the other dealers walked up to the driver who happened to be a young man, probably in his late 20s or early 30s. He looked rich and started a chat with one of the dealers.

“Dem plenty wey dey come here,” Kabir said referring to the ‘customer.’ “I get codeine, SK, heroin, and any other one wey you want, tell me, I go get am for you,” he said.

Codeine sells for N1, 000.

Originally a medication to be taken on doctor’s prescription to cure cough and cold-related ailments, drug users and addicts have found illicit ecstasy in codeine, due to its intoxicating effects. Codeine, which has been abused by many addicts, is regarded as an addictive drug. According to medicinenet.com, “Codeine is habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur but are unlikely when used for short-term pain relief. If codeine is suddenly withdrawn after prolonged use, symptoms of withdrawal may develop. It can impair thinking and physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery.”

Responding to SUNDAY PUNCH findings, Ofoyeju noted that there has been a reduction in both arrests and seizures in the agency’s operations in 2014 compared to 2013.

Loud; heroin and hemp mix

From NDLEA’s statistics, in 2014, Abuja, with 425, had the fifth highest number of arrests for drug trafficking; slightly behind Lagos (434), Bauchi (471), Kano (503) and Katsina (609) states. While the Sensitive Investigation Unit made the highest seizure of 28,063kg, Delta and Edo states had the second and third highest number of hard drugs seizures, with 24,052.05kg and 21,179kg respectively.

He noted that in 2014, 166,697.18kg of illicit drugs were seized, while the NDLEA recorded unprecedented cannabis farms destruction with a total of 4,529.15 hectares of farmland representing 53,719,342.32 kilogrammes of cannabis; while 8,826 suspected drug traffickers comprising 8,332 males and 494 females were arrested. While in 2013, the agency seized in total 339,968.11kg, and arrested 8,843 drug suspects comprising 8,324 males and 519 females.

He further noted that Cannabis sativa had the highest usage followed by cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, amphetamine, ephedrine, and psychotropic substances, in that order.

He said, “Arrests reduced by 17 persons while drugs reduced by 173,270.93kg. The above reduction is a reflection of the new strategic approach to drug control adopted by the NDLEA. Our proactive measures led to the destruction of 53.7 million kilogrammes of cannabis in farmlands in 2014. This represents an increase of 43.6 million kilogrammes over the 10 million kilogrammes destroyed at cannabis plantations in 2013.”

According to statistics sent to SUNDAY PUNCH from the NDLEA FCT command, the agency had seized more drugs in 2010 than in 2014, from 2,650.3742kg with 181 suspects, all male, in 2010; to 6,440.2kg and 425 suspects arrested in 2014.

From the statistics, while there was a reduction in the kilogrammes of drugs seized by the agency, the number of arrests increased. This may mean Abuja drug traffickers had found more ways to conceal their consignments, or they had found other locations.

When the law turns a blind eye

SUNDAY PUNCH also visited some nightclubs, red light districts, and shady street corners which also serve ‘networking points’ for hard drug dealers and users. At one of such clubs in Wuse 2, a bouncer, for a fee, was willing to personally introduce our correspondent to a few dealers and buyers, noting that, “You can get anything you want at night in Abuja, including drugs.”

Prices vary from N1000 for a wrap of hemp to N20, 000 or more for a gramme of cocaine.

It was during one of such nights that Jane, who said she had a five-year-old son, told our correspondent about her recent close shave with the police.

She said, “The Police arrested me once at H-Medics (supermarket at Wuse 2). I did not know the guy who sold SK to me was an informant. After he sold it to me, he crossed to the other side to tell the MOPOL (Mobile Police) there. I was holding it when I was caught. They eventually let me go when I gave them N2,000. I didn’t plan to come out but for a friend who had promised me money. On my way back, I felt like getting high and I went to buy it. I needed the money because of my son. But I don’t bring drugs close to him, or take it at home. My son’s life is different from mine.”

Taxi drivers and other drug dealers also spoke of making deals with some policemen in Abuja to get off their hook, although there are quite a few policemen who are strict, some added.

This was evident at the different places where our correspondent purchased hard drugs, such as Wuse 2; with a police van parked a few metres away. Dealers still conducted their business with our correspondent, and other potential customers.

However, at Zone 4, our correspondent had a close shave with the police. While waiting in the car for Kabir, a team of policemen came from the other side and swooped on the group. The taxi driver was smart enough to zoom out of the vicinity, although he later claimed the policemen wouldn’t have bothered us since we were not directly involved in buying drugs then.

Kabir’s brother and his friends however got arrested. During a return visit, our correspondent learned that they paid the police N5, 000 to release them.

Steve, the dealer at Wuse 2, said they feared the anti-narcotics agency more than the police. “The police no be our problem, na NDLEA. They (police) know say we dey here. Police nor dey arrest us like NDLEA, but na only sometimes NDLEA dey come.”

Like Ibrahim, Steve also refused to give out his phone number. He told our correspondent that NDLEA officials had arrested him a few days back, and had confiscated his phone.

“They (NDLEA) no find drugs on me, so they release me,” he said, adding that he and other drug dealers do not give out their phone numbers anymore, because it was sometimes used to set them up by informants of the agency.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT, ASP Manza Anjuguri, said he was not aware of such incidents. “That’s new to me. I’ve not got any such report. I think you should speak with the NDLEA,” Anjuguri said.

Despite several attempts, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, could not be reached. Calls and text messages sent to her phone had not been replied to at the time of this report.

According to the NDLEA, any involvement in drugs, especially their importation, exportation, sale, transfer, purchase, cultivation, manufacture, extraction and possession is regarded as illegal, and therefore a crime. It noted that “the establishment of the NDLEA was Nigeria’s deliberate attempt at joining the rest of the world in getting rid of this cankerworm within her borders. The anti-narcotics agency was established by the promulgation of Decree Number 48 of 1989, now Act of Parliament, to fight against illicit drug trafficking and consumption in the country.

More money, more drugs

Dealers such as Steve, Kabir and Ibrahim, are street peddlers. They work for others, who are sometimes middlemen or direct suppliers.

An NDLEA official told our correspondent that the street peddlers hold vital information as they could lead them to the big time dealers.

But some of the big dealers were not willing to talk about where they got their supplies from.

A week after the first meeting, our correspondent picked up Steve from the supermarket area and drove away to a location where conversation could flow unhindered.

After asking the taxi driver to leave the car, and with the promise of more business, Steve was willing to talk.

He also promised to give our correspondent a discount on a gramme of cocaine—for N15, 000, instead of N20,000— if he bought at least 10 grammes. For N200,000 worth of cocaine, Steve could make up to N50,000 as commission.

This was aside from the N30, 000 he said he was paid monthly by his boss. “The more I sell, the more money I go make,” he said, adding that he was willing to ditch his boss to work for our correspondent if he got a ‘better offer.’

Later, over regular banter and after a few thousands had exchanged hands for friendship sake, Steve gave the name of his boss as ‘Rigoro.’ “Na the name we know him as. Two of us dey work for am. Na businessman and he dey drive one big car like that,” he said, adding that he was willing to work for our correspondent if the offer was better. “Before, I dey sell only SK, but coke dey bring more money,” he added.

A few days later, Kabir also said he worked for ‘Rigoro.’ But he became suspicious when our correspondent asked him to link him up with their boss. “Make we do business first,” he said.

 A nation’s war

The Principal Staff Officer, Drug Demand Reduction unit of the NDLEA, Mr. Labbo Sulaiman,

Raw cocaine

said the illicit drugs trade has led to an increase in crime and social vices, as well as prostitution.

“Commercial sex workers are highly vulnerable to drug use because they need more drugs to meet up the demand for their services. Sometimes, they get the drugs in exchange for sexual activities. The illicit use of alcohol is also involved.

“Students of higher institutions are also vulnerable in drug peddling mostly due to the current economic realities, and unemployment. Some young people now want to live up to a certain type of lifestyle or standard, beyond their own legitimate means, so they go into drugs trade.”

Nigeria, with a population of over 170 million, has a high rate of unemployment, illiteracy and poverty, where many live on less than $2 (N400) a day.

According to the NDLEA, marijuana tops the list of the most commonly available drugs in Nigeria, as it could be manufactured in the country.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s findings show that other illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine are becoming more available on the streets, despite being more expensive.

Sulaiman said Nigeria had unfortunately graduated from being a transit nation to a consumer nation for narcotics and illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Nigeria is also regarded as one of the major countries for drugs trafficking. Many Nigerians have been sentenced to death or several years in prison for the smuggling or trafficking of hard drugs— from cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, to Indian hemp, among others. Earlier in the year, about 132 Nigerian were on death row in several prisons across China, Singapore and Indonesia.

He explained: “These illicit drugs are smuggled from South America, Colombia, and Asia. Initially, Nigeria was a transit nation, the route between the production countries to the consumer nations in the world, such as America and Europe. But unfortunately, with time, Nigeria is gradually becoming a consuming nation.”

A medical doctor, Mr. Adekolu John, said “Cannabis, hemp and marijuana, are addictive drugs with varying effects on users, this includes a loss of coordination and distortions in the sense of time, vision and hearing. And because users become dependent on these drugs, it also has health, social and economic effect of them; while long-term use can also damage the lungs, heart and the brain, and may reduce the body’s capacity to effectively fight lung infections and illness.”

When our correspondent contacted a rehabilitation centre in Abuja, Synapse Services, an official refused granting permission to speak with persons undergoing rehabilitation at the centre, citing privacy and confidentiality.

Sulaiman opined there was the need for more rehabilitation centres, aside from those in NDLEA, to help drug addicts. SUNDAY PUNCH was also not allowed to speak with persons undergoing rehabilitation at NDLEA Abuja command.

A psychologist and lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, Dr. Oni Fagboungbe, said youths in the country are most vulnerable to drugs use and trade because of economic and social factors such as unemployment, lack of education, peer pressure and influence, and a fledging societal system which fester such behaviours.

More than half of Nigeria’s 170 million population are youths between the ages of 18 and 35.

Fagboungbe said, “The upsurge in drug consumption is also caused by technology, exposure to other lifestyles through television, foreign music and videos, and the Internet. Psychological effects include a decline in quality, in innovation and creativity among our youth. Drug use cause the reticular activating system to become ineffective, which affect the short and long term memories, and this manifests in the performance of our youths, especially in education. Drugs destroy the lives of many youths.”

Fagboungbe advised that, the country’s youths should be better educated about the negative effects of drug trade and consumption. The psychologist opined that the use of hard drugs might be a major problem in higher institutions across the country.

Last year, during the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon called on governments, the media and civil society, ‘to do everything possible to raise awareness of the harm caused by illicit drugs, and to help prevent people profiting from their use.’

Ofoyeju said the NDLEA needs to intensify advocacy and public enlightenment programmes to educate people on the dangers of drug use and drug trafficking. He stated that the agency has so far successfully counselled 3,392 persons with drug abuse problems.

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