Police, NDLEA Battle Over Alleged Release Of Drug Barons

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

There are indications that things are not really going on well between the Nigeria Police and the anti-narcotics agency, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) over the reported release of suspected drug barons arrested by the police at Mushin area of Lagos and handed over NDLEA.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that recently, the Assistant Commissioner of Police Area D Mushin, ACP, Olusegun Olasoji and his officers raided the notorious drug black spots at  Akala, Olosha, Alakara, Idiaraba and other areas in Mushin and arrested those drugs dealers.
It was also learnt the police recovered some bags of drugs containing Indian hemp, cocaine, heroin and other dangerous drugs worth millions of naira.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Olasoji handed the suspects and the drugs to the NDLEA officials for prosecution in order to restore peace in those areas.

However, it seemed that the efforts of the police were truncated after the suspects were handed over to the NDLEA.
It was learnt that all the suspects were released and the drugs were reportedly handed over back to them and they have since continued their illegal business there.
These have not been confirmed by the officials of NDLEA but P.M.EXPRESS confirmed from the residents that some of the suspects arrested have since regained their freedom and returned to their usual businesses there.
What would have made the NDLEA to release the suspects were not yet clear, but some of the residents said the suspects claimed that they paid millions of naira before they were released.
Thus, this development has brought the police and NDLEA into serious collision as the police officers who carried out the operation that lasted for several days were not happy.
Some of the police officers at Area D Mushin said there was no need for such raids and arrests because the NDLEA who were supposed to compliment the efforts of the Police seemed not to want to cooperate hence endangering their lives.

When our correspondent visited Area D Mushin to speak with the Area commander, he was said to have gone to the State Police Command at Ikeja, Lagos.
However, police sources at the command confirmed the development and said the police were not happy at all with what happened concerning the raid.

When P.M.EXPRESS contacted the NDLEA Public Relation Officer, PRO, Lagos on phone, it was switched off.