Drug baron on the run over house of cannabis in Lagos

Emeka Ibemere

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says the Agency has recorded a major operational success, ever achieved in the history of the agency in Lagos State Command, in an operation that lasted for 12 working hours.

The command acting on intelligence report discovered a cannabis warehouse where 8,597.63kgs of dried weeds of the illegal substance was illegally stored.  “This is the single largest cannabis seizure ever made by the Agency in Lagos. NDLEA has sealed off the six bedroom duplex used in stockpiling cannabis, located at 46, Ateoyo Street, Igbeleri Okoko, Lagos”, Mitchell Ofoyeju, NDLEA spokesperson said.

The operation which lasted over 12 hours was led by the Assistant Commander Operations and Intelligence, Mr. Ojo Ogbechema.  All the rooms in the house were filled with cannabis except a room, a sitting room and a kitchen in the house. Officers spent several hours to evacuate the over 8.5 tons of cannabis from the illicit warehouse at Okoko, Lagos.

Lagos State commander of NDLEA, Aliyu Sule said that the command made the unprecedented seizure in a cannabis house operated by one Cletus Ishie; while acting on a tipoff.

"The suspect, his wife and two children were living with the drugs in their family house converted to a warehouse. We engaged different trucks in conveying the drugs to the office because of the large quantity. This is a serious problem that requires concerted efforts and adequate logistic support. Cletus Ishie was not at home at the time of the raid but the wife witnessed the entire operation,” Aliyu stated.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) promised to arrest the main suspect, identify and shut down more illicit drug warehouses.

 "This discovery is impressive and the Agency's strategic approach in eradicating drugs from the country. I assure Nigerians that the main suspect will be arrested and made to answer his charges,” he assured.

“Any investment in the fight against the scourge of narcotic drugs will continue to generate commensurate value. The assistance by the State government is yielding the right results. The Agency will remain active in undercover operations and detect more clandestine warehouses.”

The NDLEA boss added that the provisions of the law shall be strictly applied in every case. Section 12 of the NDLEA Act states that any person, who being the occupier or is concerned in the management of any premises, unlawfully permits or causes the premises to be used for the purpose of storing, concealing processing or dealing in the drug popularly known  as cocaine.

 LSD, heroine or any other similar drug shall be guilty of an offence under this Act. The Act also provides for the forfeiture of property or instrumentalities used in any manner to commit or to facilitate the commission of an offence specified under the act.

It would be recalled that few weeks ago, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State donated two operational Hilux vehicles and five motorcycles to the command to accelerate their operations.