Police arrest 33 suspected drug peddlers, others during Monday raids in Lagos

THIRTY-THREE suspected drug peddlers and other criminals were, on Monday, arrested by the police in Lagos State.

The suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on the Environment and Other Related Offences. 

The raids took place in Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Spokesperson for the agency, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan, confirmed the arrests, in a statement, on Monday.

Gbadeyan said: “In furtherance of its statutory mandate and in alignment with the THEMES Plus Agenda of the Lagos State government, particularly its zero-tolerance stance against environmental degradation, drug abuse, and criminality, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) has intensified its routine enforcement operations across the metropolis.

“The early morning operation, conducted on Monday, July 27, targeted street urchins, miscreants, suspected drug addicts and peddlers, illegal commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), street traders, illegal ticket touts, and other criminal elements whose activities pose threats to public safety and environmental order.”

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According to him, “areas covered during the exercise included Ikate Bus Stop, Marwa Bus Stop, Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, Obalende Underbridge, Law School Junction, and other adjoining locations along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, where the presence of suspected criminal elements had become noticeable.”

Gbadeyan added that, “at the end of the operation, a total of 33 suspects were arrested, while several exhibits were recovered. Items seized include substances suspected to be Tramadol, Indian hemp, Colorado, marijuana, cannabis, as well as dangerous weapons and objects such as scissors and cutlasses.”