Two suspected
drug traffickers who were arrested at the weekend at the Akala area of
Mushin in the Lagos metropolis have admitted being the heads of a
syndicate that specializes in the distribution of illicit substances in
Lagos....
The suspects are among 50 persons
operatives of the Lagos State Task Force swooped on in the area widely
notorious in Lagos State as a den of criminals. Akala is in police
records as the central market for distribution of Indian hemp, cocaine
and heroine, as well as other illicit drugs to criminals across the
state.
The arrested leaders were identified as Sunday Adesoye, alias Malboro, and Basirat Jimoh, popularly known as Iya Suzzy.
In his confessional statement to the
operatives, Adesoye admitted selling an average of N50,000 worth of
Indian hemp and other illicit drugs per day to his customers, who come
from many areas across the state.
Iya Suzzy, an indigene of Oyo State,
also admitted she has been selling illicit substances in the area for
more than 17 years. The suspect, who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo State,
however, denied being involved in any case of armed robbery .
The Chairman of the Lagos State Task force, Superintendent of Police Olayinka Egbeyemi, who confirmed the
arrest and recovery, said that the raid was in line with the directive
of the state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal.
Egbeyemi said the enforcement
operation was aimed at eradicating all criminal hideouts in Lagos State,
adding that during the raid, 50 suspected notorious criminals were
arrested, while 48 bags of illicit drugs were recovered.
He said, “The midnight joint
enforcement operations was led by Mr Soji Akinbayo, an Assistant
Commissioner of Police, with the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force
Olayinka Egbeyemi and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘D’
command, Mushin. Those arrested included 44 males and six females.”
He disclosed further that 48 bags of
substances suspected to be Indian hemp, with packs of other illicit
drugs such as Novalyn with Codeine cough syrup and Tuxil-C with Codeine
cough & cold syrup were recovered during the midnight raid.
The suspects were consequently
immediately charged before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State
Mobile Court each on a three-count charge of unlawful possession of weed
suspected to be Indian hemp, trading in Indian hemp and engaging in
conduct likely to cause breach of peace and disorderly manner.
All the suspects pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. The case was adjourned to November 15, 2017 for further hearing.
The Lagos State Office of Public
Defender provided free legal services for all the 50 accused through
Barrister Bashiru Abdulsalam, who will be appearing on their behalf
during the trial.
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