By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
Troops of 102 Guards Battalion of Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army had arrested suspected drug peddlers in possession of large quantity of illicit drugs along Abuja– Suleja road.
The troops were deployed for routine duties in support of the ongoing efforts to enforce lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory and it’s environs.
Captain Haruna Tagwai, Public Relations Officer, Guards Brigade, in a statement made available to Enugu Reporters explained that, the suspects were arrested along Abuja-Suleja Road with contraband in a Mercedes Benz salon car Vehicle with registration number ABC 3790 MG on the 19 April 2020.
According to him, preliminary investigation conducted revealed that the identity of 2 occupants of the vehicle who were conveying the contraband to be service personnel.
Captain Tagwai however said, during the investigation Mr Obinna Ifekonma alleged to be the owner of the substance while Chinonso Benedict was the driver when they were arrested.
He said, the arrested service personnel are in own custody for further investigation while the two civilians together with exhibits have been handed over to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency FCT Abuja for further investigation and prosecution.
Further investigation unfolded that the drug syndicate have been operating for a while.
Haruna said, more worrisome was the fact that the syndicates were making an attempt to bribe the investigation team with the sum of Two million two hundred thousand naira (N2,200,000).
He however said, the the attempt was resisted by the troops and the bribe givers arrested and handed over to NDLEA on 24 April 2020 for further prosecution.
He therefore pledged the resolve of the Brigade to the general public of it’s professional disposition in discharging it’s statutory responsibilities in the FCT.
