Nigerian man arrested over $9m drug ring operated from Australia immigration detention (Video) - Newstrends
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Nigerian man arrested over $9m drug ring operated from Australia immigration detention (Video)

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Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke

Nigerian man arrested over $9m drug ring operated from Australia immigration detention (Video)

A 49-year-old Nigerian national awaiting deportation from Australia and another man have been charged after police busted an alleged $9 million drug operation running out of an immigration detention centre in Sydney.

NWS Police in a statement on Saturday, July 27, 2024, said they stormed Villawood Detention Centre, where they allegedly found two kilograms of meth worth $165,000 hidden inside porridge boxes.

The Nigerian national, Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, was arrested on July 11 and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and direct criminal group

Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke

Police alleged that Nweke was using an encrypted messaging service and had established a network of runners outside the detention centre, who he coordinated and tasked to distribute meth and cocaine throughout Sydney.

Police then raided addresses in Sydney’s east and west.

In Liverpool, police alleged a drug runner tried to flush 750 grams of meth and 90 grams of heroin down the toilet when officers came knocking.

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A further 90 grams of heroin was allegedly found on the bathroom floor and $325,000 in cash found at the property.

Police arrested a 24-year-old man, who they allege was a runner for the Nigerian man in detention, and charged him with a range of offences.

“During the search, police located 750g of methylamphetamine and 90g of heroin in a toilet bowl, in what police will allege was an attempt to dispose of the drugs,” detective superintendent Peter Faux said at a press conference.

“Police also located and seized $325,000 in cash and a Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device.”

Police said this week’s efforts led to three separate syndicates dismantled across the city.

“The street value of those drugs which we’ve seized is in excess of $9 million.

Nweke appeared in Bankstown Local Court on July 12 and was refused bail while the alleged runner faced court on the same day as his arrest.

See more photos and a video below…

Nigerian man arrested over $9m drug ring operated from Australia immigration detention (Video)

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Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids

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Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina

Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids

 

Fresh violence rocked Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday night, leaving at least 10 people dead in coordinated attacks on Jol and Dorowa Babuje (Rob District) communities. Local leaders confirmed the assaults occurred between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm, sparking fear and outrage among residents.

The National President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Barrister Solomon Dalyop, told reporters that nine people were killed in Dorowa Babuje, while one person died in Jol. He said the attackers arrived on motorcycles from the Manga axis in Jol, despite prior warnings to security agencies about suspicious movements.

Operation Rainbow, Plateau State’s specialized security outfit, was already deployed in Jol and successfully repelled the attackers, helping to limit casualties. In Dorowa Babuje, the assailants were reported to have emerged from the Jong-Wereh area, where they had allegedly been camping for some time. Dalyop praised the swift intervention of the military, which prevented the death toll from rising further.

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Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, did not respond to calls. The Nigeria Police is yet to issue a formal comment on the attacks.

The attacks come amid a disturbing pattern of insecurity in Riyom and surrounding areas, which have recently experienced repeated night raids, ambushes, and community displacement. Residents are now demanding a sustained security presence and long-term peacebuilding measures to prevent further bloodshed.

In the aftermath, youths and community leaders blocked major highways leading to Jos on Monday, protesting the killings and urging authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. Demonstrators warned that they would not clear the roads until action is taken to secure their communities.

The latest violence underscores the urgent need for enhanced security strategies, intelligence-driven policing, and federal-state collaboration to protect residents in Plateau State’s most vulnerable communities.

Updated: Plateau Under Siege: 10 Killed in Coordinated Bandit Raids

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Police Dislodge Bandit Camps, Arrest Gunrunners in Kaduna

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Police Dislodge Bandit Camps Arrest Gunrunners in Kaduna

Police Dislodge Bandit Camps, Arrest Gunrunners in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command has achieved major operational successes in the last two weeks, including the dislodgement of bandit camps, the arrest of suspected gunrunners, and the seizure of illegal firearms and narcotics, officials confirmed at a press briefing on Monday.

State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Muhammad, said the operations were intelligence‑led and conducted across Kajuru, Tafa, Igabi, and Kauru Local Government Areas. Several bandit camps were destroyed, with some suspects neutralised during firefights and others escaping with injuries.

He also revealed that the police recovered a range of illegal weapons, including:

  • Three AK‑47 rifles
  • 21 fabricated firearms
  • One sub‑machine gun (SMG)
  • Two English pistols and four fabricated pistols
  • Large quantities of hard drugs

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Muhammad highlighted the arrest of five suspected notorious gunrunners. On February 20, the Anti‑Kidnapping Unit apprehended a suspect from Jaji, Igabi LGA, who had six fabricated AK‑47 rifles, three revolvers, two pistols, seven AK‑47 magazines, and a pair of black Wellco boots. A second suspect from Unguwar Rogo, Jos North, was also taken into custody. Preliminary investigations show the suspects are involved in illegal arms fabrication and supply, fueling criminal activities within and beyond the state.

Earlier, on February 17, police intercepted three suspects at Kasuwan Magani in connection with an illegal arms transaction. Recovered items included one fabricated AK‑47 rifle and a pump-action gun.

The commissioner emphasized that the successes reflect the command’s commitment to proactive, intelligence-driven policing aimed at cutting the supply chain of illegal arms and dismantling criminal networks linked to banditry and violent crimes.

Muhammad further appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for leadership support, the Kaduna State Government for logistics assistance, and members of the public for providing credible intelligence, saying:

“Together, we shall ensure that Kaduna State remains secure for all law-abiding citizens.”

Police Dislodge Bandit Camps, Arrest Gunrunners in Kaduna

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BREAKING: Panic at MMIA as Fire Breaks Out at Old Terminal

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Murtala Muhammed International Airport
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA)

BREAKING: Panic at MMIA as Fire Breaks Out at Old Terminal

A fire outbreak on Monday rocked the old terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, triggering panic among passengers and airport workers.

The incident, which occurred during peak operational hours, saw thick smoke billowing from a section of the terminal building, forcing travellers and staff to evacuate parts of the facility.

Eyewitnesses said the situation created confusion as passengers hurriedly moved away from the affected area while airport officials directed them to safer locations within the premises.

Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) confirmed that emergency response teams, including the airport fire service unit, were immediately deployed to the scene.

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According to sources at the airport, firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it spread to other sections of the terminal. There were no immediate reports of casualties as of press time.

Although the exact cause of the fire had not been officially disclosed, preliminary information suggested it may have originated from one of the service or administrative sections of the old terminal.

The incident reportedly caused temporary disruption to passenger processing and flight operations, with some activities briefly suspended as safety checks were carried out.

FAAN assured passengers and members of the public that the situation had been brought under control and that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of damage.

Further updates are expected from airport authorities as operations gradually return to normal.

BREAKING: Panic at MMIA as Fire Breaks Out at Old Terminal

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