NDLEA arrests female kingpin, 6 others; recovers 5,862kg drugs
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it arrested a major drug kingpin operating at the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, in Lagos State, Mrs. Sherifat Kehinde Lawal, alongside six others.
The agency also said it recovered 5,862 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs including Loud and Codeine during the raid.
Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed this in a statement, said the raid followed credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on drug dealing in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, by anti-narcotic officers of the agency.
Babafemi said that other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.
“The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves; took the suspects and exhibits away. Other suspects in custody with Mrs. Lawal include Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat and Chukwudi Egon.
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the Lagos Command of the Agency for the successful operation.
He warned those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work to desist or face dire consequences.