The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has stormed various drug dens across the country in an operation code-named "Operation Mop Up" as part of law enforcement efforts to remove enablers of crime and to ensure the peaceful inauguration of new administrations at the national and sub-national levels across the country on May 29.
It was learnt that approximately 534 suspects were apprehended in the first few days of the operation, during which tons of illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine-based syrup, cannabis sativa, and various new psychoactive substances, were recovered across the states and Abuja.
Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Osun, Benue, and Plateau top the list in terms of arrests and seizures.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, who ordered the operation, commended all officers and men of the state commands and other formations involved in the exercise for their professionalism and adherence to the NDLEA standard operating procedure.
He said, “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.”
He urged them to intensify the carrying out of the operational maxim of "offensive action" against drug cartels and traffickers until the last gram of illicit drug was removed from the country's streets and communities.