War Against Illegal Drugs: NDLEA Arrests 120 drug Peddlers, recovers 244 PVCs in A'Ibom

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Akwa Ibom state command said it has arrested about 120 drug dealers in Mbo Local Council of the state together with one Okon Bassey, and recovered 244 Permanent Voters Cards bearing different identities from him.

The 120 hard drug dealers were found to have variously been in possession of 51 kilogram’s of cannabis, 259 grammes of heroin,17 grammes of cocaine and 500 grammes of Tramadol diazepam and polypro, respectively.

This was revealed in a statement signed by the commandant, Mohammed Sokoto and made available to newsmen in Uyo the state capital on Tuesday.

He said all the suspects were arrested during the pre-election raid operations carried out by the operatives between September 2018 and January 2019.

The statement added that one, Joy Adams, a notorious heroin dealer in the state was also arrested by the operatives for allegedly being in possession of 239grammes of heroin.

The statement read partly, “The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Akwa Ibom state command embarked on Pre-election raid operations between September 2018 and January 2019 and within the period 120 suspects have been arrested with 51kg of cannabis, 259grammes of heroin and 17grammmes of cocaine, 500grammes of Tramadol diszepam and polypro.

“A suspect named Okon Bassey was arrested with 244 Permanent Voters Cards bearing different identities on Friday, January 25th 2019 in Mbo local government area of the state”, the statement said.”

The statement further stated that Joy Adams, who is currently remanded in prison custody, would soon be charged to court while the total sum of N301,000 has been recovered from all the suspects during the period.

When contacted on what the criminal intends to do with the PVCs, the command’s commander, Mohammed Sokoto said” This is to show that rigorous search and arrest of drug dealers could also yield to other sources of crimes and arrest of criminals.

He said the command could not determine exactly what he intends to do with 244 PVCs but added “whatever reason, I am sure Resident Electoral Commissioner to whom I have transferred these PVCs to will definitely explain in due course.”

Sokoto said other suspects that were arrested with drugs have been charged to court while some are still under investigation.

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