Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has launched a nationwide raid of drug joints in an exercise code-named Operation Mop Up as part of law enforcement efforts to remove enablers of crime and violence in the form of illicit substances and those who deal in them with a view to ensuring peaceful inauguration of new administrations at national and sub-national levels across the country on May 29.
Not less than 534 suspects have been 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 across the states and the FCT.
Top on the list with high arrests and seizures are Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Osun, Benue, and Plateau.
Nigeria is due to swear in a new president, Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29 after he was declared winner of the February 25 presidential elections to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking on the operation, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mr Buba Marwa, commended all the officers and men of the state commands and other formations involved in the exercise for their professionalism and for following the NDLEA standard operating procedure.
“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,” Mr Marwa stated.
He then charged them 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.
