The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Lagos State Command, yesterday said it has arrested 138
suspected drug traffickers and seized 1,399.780kg
which is equivalent of 1.3 metric tons.
One of the suspects, Ngozi Owunna, 34, a former
commercial motorbike rider, said that he embraced crime after the Lagos State
Government banned commercial cyclists.
The suspect, who allegedly distributes cannabis
within Ikeja, was said to have been caught at Allen Junction with 600 grammes
of Indian hemp after close monitoring by undercover narcotic agents.
Owunna, a father of three children, said: "I
was a commercial motor cyclist but when the Lagos State Government banned
commercial motor cycles, I shifted to sales of cannabis. I am from Enugu State.”
Another suspect, Abdulrauf Oshilaja, 50, who was caught with 50.3kg of cannabis, said that financial hardship made him to deal in cannabis.
Another suspect, Abdulrauf Oshilaja, 50, who was caught with 50.3kg of cannabis, said that financial hardship made him to deal in cannabis.
His words: "I am married to two wives and I
have five children. I used to sell motor tyres but due to family problem, I
started selling drugs because there is more profit in it than selling motor
tyres. I was arrested at Ogijo, Ikorodu."
The NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, speaking on the
138 suspected drug traffickers and seized 1,399.780kg, explained that the drugs
were seized in Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Lagos Island, Ikorodu and other parts of
the state within the first quarter of 2017.
Those apprehended in connection with drug
trafficking include 137 males and one female.
NDLEA Lagos commander, Aliyu Sule, gave a breakdown
of the seized drugs as well as arrests.
Sule said: "The Lagos command of the NDLEA
between January and March 2017 arrested 138 suspected drug dealers including a
female and seized 1,399.780kg of drugs. Cannabis has the largest share with
1,390.38kg, Tramadol 9.35kg, Cocaine 23.65 grammes and Heroin 22.8 grammes.”
The commander added that 84 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and re-united with their families while 54 drug dealers were convicted with 125 pending cases.
The Lagos command also traced and seized 372.6kg of cannabis inside a shop at Lagos Island belonging to one Ojomu Saheed, 46, from Kwara State. The suspect told narcotic officers that he had rented the shop to another suspect who is currently at large but investigation is ongoing.
NDLEA ChairmanCol. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.), who vowed to intensify Nigeria's fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse, said that the war against drugs was on course. He said there was no going back on the war against traffickers. He, however, called on stakeholders to enlist and actively participate in the anti-drug campaign.
The commander added that 84 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and re-united with their families while 54 drug dealers were convicted with 125 pending cases.
The Lagos command also traced and seized 372.6kg of cannabis inside a shop at Lagos Island belonging to one Ojomu Saheed, 46, from Kwara State. The suspect told narcotic officers that he had rented the shop to another suspect who is currently at large but investigation is ongoing.
NDLEA ChairmanCol. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.), who vowed to intensify Nigeria's fight against drug production, trafficking and abuse, said that the war against drugs was on course. He said there was no going back on the war against traffickers. He, however, called on stakeholders to enlist and actively participate in the anti-drug campaign.
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