By DIANA OMUEZA

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has raised an alarm over attempts by some visitors to smuggle illicit drugs into its custodial centres.

DSC Adamu Duza, the Public Relations Officer, NCoS FCT Command, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

“Recently, after much surveillance, we intercepted drug peddlers at the NCoS custodial centre in Kuje.

“At about three o’clock on Wednesday, men of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, apprehended one Fidelis Emmanuel with substances suspected to be cannabis otherwise known as Indian hemp.

“During preliminary investigation, the suspect came with food in a flask to visit his friend who is in the custody of the correctional centre.

“It was in the process of routine search that the prohibited item was found concealed under the food flask and the suspect was apprehended,” he said.

Duza said that the Comptroller of the FCT Command, Mr John Francis, had ordered that the suspect be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (NDLEA) for the law to take its course.

He said that the comptroller had also heightened security and surveillance at the various centres in the FCT, to uncover visitors who disguise to smuggle illicit drugs into the centres.

“Officers of the custodial centre are now on the watch out for those who hide under the guise of visitors to sabotage and discredit the efforts of the Nigeria Correctional Service in rehabilitating offenders.

“We urge members of the public, genuine families and friends of inmates to join in the fight against drug abuse in order to curb crimes, ensure rehabilitation of inmates, reinstatement back to society and decongestion of custodial centres,” he said. (NAN)

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