50 Suspected Criminals Arrested In Lagos, 48 Bags Of Illicit Drugs Recovered

The Lagos Police and the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force at the weekend raided Akala area of Mushin, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria and arrested 50 suspected criminals with 48 bags of illicit drugs.

The mid-night joint enforcement operations was led by Mr. Soji Akinbayo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘D’ Command Mushin.

The raid was on the order of the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgar.

Egbeyemi disclosed that 44 male and 6 female suspected criminals were arrested during the raid.

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 Syrub’ and ‘Tuxil-C cough & cold with Codeine’ were recovered during the mid-night raid.

Egbeyemi stated that his agency and other police officers were battle ready to maintain zero tolerance on criminal activities across the State as initiated and directed by the Commissioner of Police.

He commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for giving priority to security challenges in the State by supporting the Nigerian Police, including the Lagos State Task Force with needed working materials.

The Chairman, who enjoined criminals across the State to turn a new leaf or be chased out, however confirmed that Edgar had directed that all arrested 50 suspects be charge to court for prosecutions.

One of the suspects, Sunday Adesoye, a.k.a ‘Malboro’ confessed that ‘Akala’ served as a ‘Central Market’ for Indian hemp and illicit drugs to all miscreants and hoodlums across the State.

He confessed further that he sold an average of N500,000 worth of Indian hemp with other illicit drugs per day to his customers from Obalende, Oshodi, Pen-Cinema, Apapa, Lagos Island, Fadeyi, amongst others.

A female suspect, Mrs Basirat Jimoh’ a.k.a ‘Iya Suzzy’ who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo State confessed to have been trading in Indian hemp and other illicit drugs at Akala area for over 17 years.

She, however, claimed she only buy and sell India hemp and not into criminal activities.

All suspects were charged before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on 3-count charge of unlawful possession of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp, trading in Indian Hemp and conduct likely to cause breach of peace and disorderly manner.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Oluremi Kuku disclosed that all arrested 50 suspects pleaded not guilty before the court, while the Magistrate granted them a bail conditions and the case was adjourned to 15th of November, 2017 for further hearing.