With the presidential and National Assembly elections hours away, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested suspected criminals in Akwa Ibom, Kano and Oyo states. One Okon Bassey was also arrested and allegedly had in his possession 244 permanent voter cards in Akwa Ibom State. NDLEA, also revealed that a sum of N310,000 was also recovered from the suspect, who was arrested in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The state command of the NDLEA Abdallah has also appealed to all Nigerians, particularly the electorate, toe nsure they go about their electoral duties peacefully.“We are all aware that political thugs and criminals are always high on drugs before committing heinous crimes. Unfortunately, this is a bad season for them as we shall go extra mile to rid the nation of illicit drugs.”The NDLEA said the suspected thief of PVCs had been handed over to the Independent National Electoral Commission for further investigation. “Despite the challenges being faced by our officers and men in terms of manpower and logistics, they have performed creditably in clearing political thugs and drug addicts’ hideouts within few days of its sting operation.“Only last Sunday, four officers and men of the agency were murdered by suspected drug dealers in Ifon, Ondo State while searching for drugs being transported from Edo State to the northern part of the country. “Operatives of the agency in Akwa Ibom State have arrested one Okon Bassey and recovered from him 244 Permanent Voter Cards belonging to different people and a sum of N310,000. This suspect was arrested at Mbo Local Government Area.“These suspects were arrested during the pre-election raid by operatives of the NDLEA in order to reduce acts of violence during the elections. The efforts of our officers also paid off with the arrest of one Joy Adams, a notorious heroin dealer in Akwa Ibom State, for allegedly being in possession of 239g of heroin.” On dislodging 35 drug joints and hotspots in Kano State ahead of the elections, Abdallah said; “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.“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.”Photo Credit: Getty
