Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2008
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2008 Vanguard.
Contact:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2890
Author: Emeka Mamah

NDLEA NABS 277 SUSPECTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in  Kaduna State has
arrested 277 suspected drug  traffickers with about 3,820.5kg of both
Indian hemp  and cocaine. The arrests were made between January and
November, 2008.

However, 52 of those arrested have already been  convicted while 17
others were rehabilitated by the  Agency.

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mallam Mohammed  Malami made this
known while addressing newsmen in  Zaria weekend.

"This is a special arrest because of the nature and  circumstances in
which the arrest was made. This is the  largest arrest that has been
made this year and from  just four suspects", he said.

Malami also said that four of the suspects were found  with 110 bags
of Indian hemp weighing about 1,429 kg,  pointing out that the group
was a well organised  syndicate. The group had a driver, courier
escort, and  a conductor conveying the prohibited exhibit from Edo
State.

"The driver of the Peugeot J5 bus with registration  number XC 334
Bauchi, who gave his name as Isa Abubakar  claimed that he was
conveying some materials from Edo  State promised to bribe our men
with N35,000 but when  we discovered that it was Indian hemp, they
promised to  add additional N25,000 to the initial agreement",  Malami
further said.

But one of the suspects, Mansur Yusuf, who claimed to  be a mobile
policeman with the Kogi State police  command, denied any involvement
in the illicit  business.

"I am innocent of the alleged crime. I am a policeman  serving with
the Kogi state police command.

"They only helped me from Okene and I am going to  Jigawa
state.

"Since I was not on duty, I did not bother to inspect  the vehicle I
was boarding. In fact, it would be unfair  to them because they have
helped me," Yusuf said.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath