By ABBAS JIMOH

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Chibuike Apolos, a major supplier of illicit drugs in Abia State, on Wednesday during an early morning raid of his hideout at Mbausi in Isialangwa North area of the state.

Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said on Wednesday in Abuja that Apolos has been on the wanted list of the Abia State Command of the NDLEA since February following the arrest of one Chima Ukeleonu, the suspect behind the video that went viral in January 2021, showing a young man hawking illicit drugs on the street.

According to him, it was due to the development that the 38-year-old Apolos was put on wanted list.

“Following his arrest in the early hours of Wednesday, the Abia State government has already marked his house that serves as his hideout for demolition,” Babafemi said.

He also quoted the Commander, Abia State Command of the NDLEA, Bamidele Akingbade, as saying that “The command has been on his trail since February this year. Fortunately we got a tip-off that he just received some quantities of cannabis from Edo State. Notwithstanding the tense security situation in the south east especially Abia State, the Command still embarked on the operations which culminated in the arrest of one Chibuike Apolos with 10 bags of cannabis weighing 100kg, 1.6 grammes of cocaine, one gramme of heroin and five grammes of methamphetamine

“The suspect is one of the major suppliers of illicit drugs in Abia State especially in the Isialangwa communities. The State governor has been notified and his building has been marked for demolition.”

In a similar development, the Taraba State Command of the Agency has arrested 61-year-old Lawan Gambo Umar for trafficking 58.50kg of cannabis sativa.

According to the state Commander of NDLEA, Suleiman Ajadi, “The suspect was taking the skunk concealed inside sacks of beans chaff used to feed animals to Fune in Yobe State when our men intercepted him.”

Reacting to the two developments, Chairman/Chief Executive, NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the Abia and Taraba commands of the agency for the seizures and arrests while urging them to sustain the current tempo of offensive action to rid the country of illicit substances.

Marwa said, “No doubt, the volume that has been seized in these two operations is less the kilogramme meant for our towns and communities. I therefore urge our officers and men across all the commands all over the country to continue to smoke all the elements involved in this criminal trade out of their hiding places.” (Daily Trust)

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