The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 534 suspects in a nationwide raid of drug joints code-named ‘Operation Mop Up’ ahead of the inauguration of the next administration on May 29, 2023.

The suspects were arrested in the first few days of the commencement of the operation, during which tons of illicit drugs including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine-based syrup, cannabis sativa, and various new psychoactive substances, among others, were recovered from them.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who made the disclosure via a statement issued on Friday, May 19, said the suspects were arrested in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Osun, Benue, and Plateau states.

Babafemi noted that the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), who ordered the operation, commended all the anti-narcotic officers and other formations involved in the exercise for their professionalism and following the agency’s standard operating procedure.

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Marwa said: “I’m impressed by the level of compliance with the directive to all our commands and formations to dismantle all drug joints within their areas of responsibility, mop up all illicit substances in such locations and arrest all those culpable.

“This will in no small measure take out of the equation, enablers of crime and violence such as illicit drugs, their dealers and all those relying on mind-altering substances to disrupt the May 29 inauguration ceremonies across the states and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The NDLEA boss enjoined the officers of the anti-drug agency to continue with the operational maxim of ‘offensive action’ against drug cartels and traffickers until the last gram of illicit drug is taken out of the streets and communities across the country.

The Star