Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested five suspected drug peddlers during separate raids in Pulka and Gwoza areas of Borno State, recovering large quantities of cannabis, controlled substances and cash.
Security sources disclosed on Saturday that the operations were carried out by troops of the 192 Battalion (Motorised), Forward Operating Base, Pulka, and the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks in the North-East.
According to the sources, troops of the 192 Battalion arrested three suspects identified as Bamadu Grama, 25; Usman Usman, 28; and Bana Buba, 30, during a raid conducted at about 4 p.m. on July 2 in Pulka.
The sources said items recovered from the suspects included 151 wraps of cannabis, two sacks of cannabis, three bottles of a substance popularly known as “Suck and Die,” one bottle of cough syrup, three packs of Tramadol tablets, an Itel mobile phone, a Tecno mobile phone, one pack of “Orisk,” 39 suspected illicit tablets and N20,000 cash.
In a separate operation conducted at about 9:45 p.m. on July 3, troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison raided a suspected drug den in Gwoza, leading to the arrest of two other suspects, Akawu Adamu, 52, and Abba Yuguda, 37.
Items recovered during the operation included 114 wraps of cannabis, one bottle of cough syrup, one bottle of “Suck and Die,” a sack containing “Captain Black,” a sack of cannabis seeds, an MP3 player, an Itel mobile phone, 34 wraps of “Arizona,” 44 wraps of “Captain Black” and N64,700 cash.
The sources said the suspects were currently in the custody of the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison and would be subjected to further investigation.
According to the sources, the raids formed part of Operation HADIN KAI’s sustained campaign against illicit drug trafficking, which security agencies believe fuels criminal activities and insurgency in parts of the North-East.
They added that troops would continue to target drug trafficking syndicates and other criminal networks threatening security and public safety across the theatre of operations.
