2nd June, 2013
Simon Ateba/Lagos
Nigeria’s anti-drug trafficking agency and soldiers have carried out a raid on Akala area of Mushin, a notorious neighbourhood in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, and arrested 47 drug suspects, officials said on Sunday.
The operation, which lasted several hours, led to the seizure of 3,166 kilogrammes of cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
“The agency will continue to gather intelligence reports and conduct raids on criminal hideouts. We are prepared to clean-up Lagos,” said Ahmadu Giade, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Giade said the operation is a pointer to the fact that no criminal location is invincible.
Giade commended the Nigerian Army Commander, 9 Brigade Lagos, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade for giving his men the needed back-up for the operation.
“The understanding and cooperation of the Nigerian Army is highly commendable,” he said.
Oyebade urged stakeholders to support the NDLEA in the eradication of illegal drugs in our society.
“illicit drugs induce crime and aggravate insecurity,” he said.
Oyebade said considering the problem of drug trafficking and consumption in Nigeria, soldiers are ready to assist the NDLEA whenever they call on.
“I also urge other stakeholders to partner with the agency in making the country drug-free,” he said.
NDLEA Lagos State commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule said a cannabis warehouse was discovered during the raid operation.
Sule said a total of 47 suspected drug traffickers and addicts (42 males and five females) were apprehended during the operation.
“An illegal warehouse was discovered at the scene of operation where 3,166.15kg of drugs mainly cannabis was seized. There were also 31.4 grammes of heroin, 292 grammes of cocaine and 1.9 grammes of methamphetamine which were prepared in pinches meant for local consumption,” Sule said.
He said the operation is the second raid on Akala in the last seven days. The first operation according to him led to the seizure of 187.355kg of cannabis.
NDLEA Chairman had met with Governor Babatunde Fashola in February 2013 and the asked for support on how to arrest the rise of drug trafficking syndicates following the discovery of several methamphetamine production laboratories in the State.
NDLEA said investigation has commenced and all those found culpable shall be prosecuted while the addicts shall be placed on counselling.