65-year-old woman, among 50 arrested for drug offences in Kwara

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State has arrested 50 suspected drug offenders, among whom is a 65-year-old woman in Kulende area of Ilorin metropolis at the weekend.

Parading six of the suspects before journalists in Ilorin on Monday, the state commander of the corps, Pedro Ideba, said others had been freed after investigation showed that they were not directly connected with the offence.

The NSCDC boss, who said that arrest of the suspects were made possible by information supplied by residents of the community, added that the suspected drug offenders kept the suspected drugs in a hole dug with lid inside their shops.

He also said that some of the suspected drugs recovered from the suspects included cough syrup, tramadol tablets, codeine, Indian hemp, charms, among others, adding that the suspects gave a bribe of N15,000 to his men to escape arrest.

“Before now, we’ve received series of petitions and complaints from communities in Kulende/sanngo area of Ilorin South local government pointing to the fact that hoodlums have taken over part of the community for nefarious activities, ranging from burglary, raping, theft, snatching of bags. It has been a concern to the command and the state government and a security threat.

“The suspects sell the drugs with impunity without regard to law of the land. We arrested the owners of the business, two apprentices and taker of the hard drugs. Though, we arrested some passersby, but we later filtered them down and we now have the six direct culprits of the offence.

“Some of them were arrested as they used the area where they were arrested as take off point to commit crime. But since we couldn’t find any direct incriminating evidence against them, we let them off the hook.

“The shop owners dug the floor to hide the drugs and only sold to those they know are their customers, because they know its an offence to sell illicit drugs.

“We plan to hand them over to the NDLEA who has direct mandate to prosecute those involved in contraband drugs or drug trafficking, immediately after this parade and for law to take its course.