In a coordinated crackdown on drug trafficking, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five suspects, including a former professional footballer, for their involvement in illicit drug deals in Lagos and Kano States.
The agency disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday, noting that the arrests were part of its intensified operations to curb the spread and consumption of hard drugs across the country.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the former footballer, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was apprehended in Lagos after being found in possession of hard substances believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine.
In Kano, four other suspects were arrested in separate operations. The NDLEA recovered substantial quantities of illicit substances, including cannabis sativa, tramadol, and codeine syrup, during the raids conducted across the metropolis.
The agency revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the suspects were part of a wider trafficking network responsible for supplying drugs to various states.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the efforts of the operatives, reiterating the agency’s unwavering resolve to dismantle drug syndicates across the country.
Marwa urged the public, particularly the youth, to shun drug abuse and support the agency’s fight against narcotics, warning that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
The suspects, he said, will be charged to court once investigations are concluded.