Olusola Bello
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three drug traffickers wearing uniforms of security agencies to escape scrutiny with over 427 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in Borno State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
While Yakubu Kotri, impersonating as military personnel was arrested on Wednesday, December 29 driving a golf car loaded with cannabis sativa weighing 208 kilogrammes on his way to Bama, Borno State, another suspect, Salisu Mohammed, who adorned the uniform of another security agency to traffic Tramadol to Bama was also nabbed by narcotic officers on patrol on the route same day.
Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, yesterday, said although pictures of the arrest of Yakubu Kotri in uniform have been trending on social media since Wednesday, the agency wishes to disclaim such because the suspect has not been confirmed to be a serving military personnel.
Similarly, another impersonator, Dada Adekunle was on Wednesday arrested along with his 60-year-old accomplice, Usman Isa, in Abaji area of FCT with 15.843kg Cannabis, while 20kg of the same drug was seized from Alfred Aminu, who was intercepted at Gwagwalada same day.
In Plateau State, a commercial DAF truck marked GME 874 YX, coming from Onitsha, Anambra State to Mubi, Adamawa State was intercepted on Tuesday, December 28 along Jos-Bauchi Road. Upon search, 7.8kg of 225mg Tramadol was recovered.
Also on Tuesday in Yauri area of Bauchi State, NDLEA operatives arrested one Shaft’atu Abubakar with 174 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and 2.1kg Diazepam, while a suspected bandit, Usman Sani was arrested in Dan-Anacha town, Gasol L.G.A, Taraba with two pistols and ammunition.
Commending officers and men of Borno, FCT, Plateau and Taraba State commands for their vigilance, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) said the arrest should serve as a warning to drug traffickers, who want to wear uniforms of security agencies as a cover to escape scrutiny, would not go undetected.
