By Juliana Francis
The Nigerian Air Force, operating under the Joint Task Force South West, Operation AWATSE, has arrested 16 drug suspects and recovered assorted narcotics during an intelligence-led operation in Lagos.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Air Commodore Muhammed Imam, Commander of the Base Services Group and Air Component Commander of Operation AWATSE, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing. He explained that the task force was established to protect critical national assets and combat multiple security threats in the South West.
“The Joint Task Force South West Operation AWATSE was established to halt pipeline vandalism, crude oil and petroleum product theft along the 72-kilometre pipeline from the Atlas Po to the Mosimi Depot. The operation is also an anti-banditry, anti-kidnapping, anti-robbery and anti-drug abuse operation,” Imam stated.
According to him, the recent operation was part of Operation Ember Guard, launched on the directive of the Federal Government through the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede. The initiative was designed to deny criminal elements freedom of action in the region. Sustained patrols and raids under this mandate led to the arrest of the suspects in December.
Imam revealed that during the December 28 raid in Igimu, Tatuaru, and Egbeda, the Air Force recovered a variety of narcotics including crack cocaine, 60 pieces of “loud,” 40 bottles of codeine cough syrup, Kola and Barcadi, six barcode packs, two Russian cream packs, crushers, three electronic scales, rohypnol, and crystal meth (“ice”).
He emphasised that the suspects were immediately transferred to the NDLEA, the agency statutorily mandated to handle drug-related offences.
NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander of Teju, Stephen Oboshua, commended the Nigerian Air Force for the arrests and praised the inter-agency collaboration.
“On behalf of the State Commander, ACGM Aba Kaurani, and the entire Lagos State Strategic Command, we appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force for taking it upon themselves in the course of their duties to effect the arrest of these suspects and recover the drugs being displayed here,” Oboshua said.
He reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to combating drug abuse and trafficking, stressing the importance of synergy among security agencies, including the Nigerian Customs, Air Force, and Navy.
Oboshua noted that the fight against drugs was crucial to safeguarding young people, warning that most of the recovered substances were depressants and psychoactive drugs that severely affect the central nervous system
