By Gabriel Ameh
Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force have uncovered illicit drugs valued at approximately ₦7.8 billion during a major raid in the Maryland area of Lagos State.
The operation, carried out over the weekend by a joint team from the Zone 2 Police Command and the Special Protection Unit (SPU), also led to the arrest of several suspects, including the alleged drug kingpin, Eke Ifeanyi Henry.
Police authorities disclosed that the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe officers with ₦500 million to stop the operation and allow the illegal consignment to be moved to another location.
The offer was reportedly rejected immediately by the operatives.The raid followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the SPU and Zone 2 Headquarters on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu.
During the operation, officers recovered hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with an estimated street value running into billions of naira.
Speaking to journalists, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Jimoh, revealed that the suspect had been under close monitoring for several months before his arrest on May 19.
According to him, the successful operation highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and collaboration between specialised police units and divisional commands.
“The professionalism displayed by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe demonstrates the level of integrity expected from officers,” the police hierarchy stated.IGP Disu also praised the operatives involved, noting that the operation validates the ongoing grassroots policing strategy aimed at strengthening collaboration between tactical and divisional units across Lagos and Ogun states.
He further assured that the Force would continue to reward integrity and ensure accountability within its ranks.
The police confirmed that all recovered exhibits have been properly documented and would be presented in court as investigations continue to uncover other members of the drug trafficking network
