NDLEA To Storm Hotels More Suspected Drug Spots in Lagos

CHAIRMAN NDLEA, AHMADU GIADE

Even as the combined team of officers with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Army raided Akala Street area of Mushin in Lagos last weekend, more of such surprise soak-up at suspected notorious criminal hideouts in Lagos, south west Nigeria should be expected, says the anti-narcotic agency.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, who told our correspondent this in a chat, added that such attack was necessary, "if we want to secure the future of our youths and redeem the image of the country in the international arena."

Giade said the objective of the Akala Street, Mushin action was clearly defined and the officers did not make mistake in its execution, "that is why you saw such enormous and unprecedented success as it were. i want to assure you that if that is what it would take to rid our country of hard drugs, then we should expect more of such," he stated.

The NDLEA Chairman stated further that, the agency also hope to expand such surprise raid to suspected hotels and other illicit drugs transaction joints in and around Lagos. " Very soon we would be paying surprise visit to hotels and other suspected drug joints. We know all of them and would soon close-up on them."

Investigation by our correspondent revealed such areas to include, Omole Estate, Ajao Estate in Isolo area of the state, FESTAC Town, Ladipo spare-part market, Ikeja GRA, Lekki phase one Surulere, Gbagada phase two, Ikosi GRA and Ogudu GRA.

Sources confirmed that, drug traffickers take-off point are scattered within the afore-mentioned areas within the states.

It would be recalled that the agency had last weekend stormed the notorious Akala street in Mushin in an operation which lasted several hours and arrested of 47 suspected drug traffickers and addicts with the seizure of 3,166.15kg of narcotics including 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. This operation is a pointer to the fact that no criminal location is invincible. The understanding and cooperation of the Nigerian Army is highly commendable” Giade stated.

NDLEA Lagos State commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule, had said that a cannabis warehouse was discovered during the Mushin raid operation.

A total of 47 suspected drug traffickers including addicts were apprehended. They include 42 males and five females. “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 stated.

The commander added that 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.

It will be recalled that the NDLEA Chairman met with Governor Babatunde Fashola in February 2013 where the Agency solicited for State support on how to arrest the rise of drug trafficking syndicates following the discovery of several methamphetamine production laboratories in the State.