A Federal High Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has sentenced two drug traffickers to thirty-five years in prison.
The duo were arrested in cars bearing fake presidency number plates near the Numan Bridge, Numan, in Adamawa State.
The convicts, Shuaibu Nuhu Isa, 55, and Zidon Zurga, 50, were apprehended on 25 November 2024 along the Numan-Yola road by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in collaboration with their military counterparts.
The were arrested with a massive load of 626 blocks of cannabis weighing 500.8kg which was being transported from Ondo State to Mubi, Adamawa State.
The illegal consignment was concealed in two tinted vehicles: a Toyota Hilux (Lagos NT 829 AAA) and a Prado SUV (01B-266 FG), both bearing fake presidency number plates.
The number plates were intended to beguile traffic security personnel and avoid proper checks, but the ruse failed. The now-convicted drug traffickers were arrested, and the vehicles, along with the illicit contents, were seized.
After facing trial before Justice Bala Usman of the Federal High Court in Yola, they were convicted on Friday, 7 March 2025, and sentenced to 35 years in prison each.
The court also ordered that the two vehicles used for the illicit operation be forfeited.
Reacting to the development, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri commended NDLEA and security agencies for their commitment to making Adamawa State drug-free.
The governor encouraged individuals struggling with drug addiction to embrace a better future and contribute positively to society.
credit: withinNigeria
