The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an alleged drug kingpin operating the notorious Patey Lagos Island drug haven, Lagos State, Mrs Sherifat Kehinde Lawal.
She was arrested on Saturday during the raid, along with six other suspects by operatives who also recovered 5,862kgs of different illicit drugs including a cannabis strain popular known as ‘loud’ and Codeine.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Saturday that following credible intelligence and follow up surveillance on illicit drug dealings in Osho, Gambari, and Beecroft Streets, Patey Area of Lagos Island, anti-narcotic officers stormed the Gambari street base of the drug kingpin where they arrested her and six of her accomplices.
Babafemi said that other members of the cartel operating in the axis however mobilised hoodlums who attacked the operatives with stones, bottles and guns in a bid to prevent the officers from arresting other kingpins marked for arrest as well as taking the suspects already nabbed and drug exhibits away.
“The operatives were able to tactically defend themselves, took the suspects and exhibits away. Other suspects in custody with Mrs Lawal include Ahmed Yisau; Solomon Alape; Olayemi Akinola; Salami Qudus; Bakare Rafiu; Rose Samson; Yusuf Rofiat, and Chukwudi Egon,” Babafemi said.
Reacting to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the Lagos Command of the agency for the successful operation. Marwa warned those being used by drug cartels to obstruct or attack anti-narcotic officers in the course of doing their work to desist or face dire consequences.