The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has combed Akwa Ibom, Kano and Oyo states, and apprehended suspected criminals.
The agency announced the arrest of one Okon Bassey, for being in possession of 244 permanent voter cards in Akwa Ibom State, and dislodged 35 drug joints and hotspots in Kano State ahead of the elections.
According to NDLEA, the susppect, who was arrested in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, also had sum of N310,000 on him.
The state command of the NDLEA also revealed it has arrested 120 suspected hard drug dealers found to be in possession of 51kg of cannabis, 259gm of heroin, 17gm of cocaine, 500gm of Tramadol Diazepam and Polypro.
Among the drug joints raided in Kano were Plaza, Sanya-Olu, Kabuga, Rimin-Kebe, Danzaki Village, Sauna, Wurare, Aisami, Sabon Titi, Dorayi, Hauren-Gadagi, Kwanar Dan-Marke Motor Park, Chalawa, Madobi, Ring Road, Farawa Village, Mariri Motor Park and Kofar- Ruwa.
The NDLEA disclosed it has also dislodged an illegal hard drug laboratory in Ibadan, Oyo state, where the production of skushi, a derivative potpourri of illicit and controlled drugs, was produced illegally.
Speaking on the successes recorded, the Chairman of NDLEA, Col Mustapha Abdallah, was quoted as saying, “The success recorded in Kano State is due to the efforts of our officers during their special operations to keep the state free from drug use as the 2019 general elections get close. Several joints where criminals and political thugs hatch their violent plans were raided.
“During the Kano raid, a 42-year-old suspect named Okechukwu Echefu, was arrested with nine cartons of fake Coartem tablets, seven cartons of fake Augmentin tablets, two cartons of Laclox tablets and two cartons containing brand packages and labels of fake drugs.
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“Preliminary investigation revealed that the drugs were imported from South Africa by yet-to-be identified barons who are still at large. The case is to be handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. The NDLEA has resolved to continue with these raids until these criminal flashpoints are completely routed out nationwide.”
The NDLEA said that it had recently uncovered illegal hard drug laboratory in Ibadan in Oyo State, where the production of a derivative potpourri of illicit and controlled drugs, was produced illegally.
Abdallah said, “Skushi is a cocktail drink that contains a mixture of different substances, including cannabis sativa, codeine, tramadol and watermelon.
“The suspects arrested included one 20-year-old Djeba Wisdom. About 300g of cannabis sativa, 36 cartons of cough syrup, 10 cartons of black currant drink and 1,910 tablets of tramadol were recovered from the illicit factory located at Crown Height Area of Ojoo, Ibadan.”
He added that, the NDLEA also recovered a drum, 290 litres of already produced Skushi, laptops, five pumping machines and two big plastic containers.