Crimes

NDLEA arrests 39 in Abuja raids, destroys 5.3 hectares of cannabis farm

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested no fewer than 39 suspects following raids of drug joints in parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, made the disclosure via a statement made available to The Star on Sunday.

According to Babafemi, areas raided between Saturday, June 4 and Saturday, June 11 include Apo Mechanic (Cashew forest), Apo NEPA, Tora Bora, Gishiri junction, Jabi park, Jabi forest, Jabi Gidan Bola, Deidei area, Rugga area, City Gate, Sabon Lugbe, Basa village, and Airport road.

“The raid, which continues across Abuja, is a joint operation between the FCT Command of the Agency and the Chairman Monitoring Special Task Force to rid the capital territory of the activities of drug dealers and peddlers,” he noted.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that the anti-narcotic operatives also destroyed 5.301713 hectares of cannabis farm in Oke forest, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Babafemi stated that the NDLEA operatives further intercepted 10,280 tablets of Tramadol, 2000 tablets of Diazepam, 300 tablets of Swinol, 5000 tablets of Axol, and 10 bottles of Codeine-based syrup in the Irrua area of Edo State.

He noted that the anti-drug operatives, on Friday, June 9, raided Tsohuwar Kasuwa area of Potiskum town in Yobe State and arreasted a notorious drug dealer, Usman Alhaji, popularly known as NEPA, with 22 blocks of cannabis sativa.

Speaking on the arrests and seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the anti-drug officers for their resilience.

Marwa further urged them and others across all commands to remain vigilant and committed to the collective goal of saving Nigeria from the drug scourge.

The Star