NDLEA arrests three suspects in Kwara for ‘possession of illicit drugs’

The Kwara command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested three suspects over alleged possession of prohibited substances, including Indian hemp.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Muhammed Ibrahim, the NDLEA state commander, identified the suspects as Solomon Sonowo, Abubakar Tijani, and Chidiebere Nwanko.

He added that the agency’s operatives also intercepted psychotropic drugs from some other suspects.

Ibrahim said Nwankwo, the third suspect is an alleged serial drug peddler, who recently gained freedom from a detention facility after being arrested in January 2022, for the same crime.

“He faked his name to be Chidi Godwin when he was arrested, but we discovered his real name as shown on his identity card as Nwanko Chidiebere Innocent,“ NAN quoted him as saying.

“He sent his consignment from Lagos down to Ilorin through a driver and we intercepted the vehicle and searched to discover dangerous drugs.

“He does not have any shop, he is not a registered patent medicine practitioner or has any pharmaceutical shop.”

The NDLEA commander added that “Innocent sells drugs to his customers at his rented apartment and hawks same with his car as he has no shop”.

Ibrahim said operatives of the agency intercepted 4 kilogrammes of cannabis, 3 grammes of meth and 43 grammes of swinol being carried by Sonowo along Bode Sadu in Moro LGA of the state.

Tijani, he said, was arrested with 14 kilogrammes of cannabis along the same Bode Sadu axis.

He added that the command arrested Godwin along the Adewole area in Ilorin for being in possession of 1.950 kilogrammes of Tramadol, 2.950 kilogrammes of Diazepam and 179 grammes of Pentazocine.

He said the agency would charge the suspects to court for prosecution.

Ibrahim warned those involved in the illicit drug business to be wary of doing their illegal activities in the state, noting that the command had beefed up its operational strategy to locate their hideouts.

“We want to intensify our patrol activities to ensure we cut the channels of drug supply into the state. We just started and we are getting it right,” he said.