Anambra agency destroys ₦50m illicit drugs, arrests suspects

The Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, on Saturday, destroyed illicit drugs estimated at N50m during raids on various locations in Awka, the state capital and its environs.

Speaking during the operation, the Managing Director of SASA, Monday Nwokoye, said that those arrested in connection with the illegal business had been handed over to officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Nwokoye added that the raids followed credible intelligence, underscoring the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on illicit drug abuse and touting activities in the state.

He warned individuals involved in the sale or consumption of illicit substances to desist or risk facing strict legal consequences.

He said, “The raid underscores SASA’s commitment to dismantling illicit drug networks and curbing criminality across Anambra State.

“It is a significant enforcement exercise carried out after credible intelligence gathering across various locations.

“Illicit drugs estimated to be worth about N50m were found and destroyed, reaffirming the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on drug abuse and touting.

“It is our quest to ensure that Anambra is rid of touting, hard drugs, and all forms of crimes and criminality. The hard drugs were recovered from Awka and its environs.

“Those arrested in connection with the illegal business had been handed over to officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.”

The SASA boss said they burnt the hard drugs to ensure that they do not get back into society, warning drug peddlers to leave the state or face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, the hard drugs seized included cocaine, Ghanaian loud, tramadol, cannabis sativa, mkpulu mmiri, and several others.

He stated that officers of SASA will continue to discharge their mandate without fear or favour, while appreciating the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for his numerous supports to the agency, and promised Ndi Anambra that they will continue to rid the state of all illicit hard drugs, touting, and criminality.

“We urged Ndi Anambra to always speak up whenever they notice anything untoward in their local environments in any part of the state for immediate action to be taken in order to build a liveable, secure, and prosperous homeland,” he added.