NDLEA Arrests Abuja Businessman For Selling Drugs Online

Category: Crime News

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the MD/CEO of Marvelrock Pharmaceuticals and Stores Limited, Orakwe Chibuike Celestine.

Celestine was arrested in the Nigerian capital for engaging in sales of illicit and controlled drugs on the popular e-commerce platform.

The graduate of Business Administration from the University of Abuja registered the pharmaceutical company on 16th December 2014. 

READ: NDLEA Seizes $4.7M Fake Cash In Abuja, Arrests Suspect

The registration was done with the certificate and support of a licensed pharmacist, who opted out of the deal in 2017.

But the suspect continued running the business and enrolled it on a web platform in 2019, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Wednesday.

The monitoring of Celestine started in October 2021 when he advertised products such as Tramadol, Ketamine Hydrochloride injection, Hypnox flunitrazepam tablets, etc., on the internet. 

READ: One Person Shot Dead as NDLEA Officials Burst Hoodlums on Lagos Island (Video)

Between 26th October 2021 and 8th August 2022, the team of anti-narcotic officers assigned to the case established that he was selling Tramadol 225mg and other drugs online.

“The suspect was arrested with some quantities of Tramadol and Swiphnol brand of Rohypnol on Monday 8th August at a bar in the Jabi area of Abuja where he had gone to make some supplies of orders”,

NDLEA chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa said the investigation and arrest of the businessman should send a strong message to those using the internet to sell illicit/controlled drugs that the agency will get them. 

READ: Kano is Nigeria’s Drug Abuse Hot Spot