The National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, Akwa Ibom State Command, has extolled the state’s joint taskforce – ‘Operation Thunder’ for impounding a commercial bus conveying India hemp.
The bus, a Toyota Hiace, with number plate SB 490 AFM belongs to Akwa Ibom Transport Company Limited.
It was said to be conveying 165.4kg hemp from Edo State on Wednesday night, when the taskforce, intercepted it at Mbierebe in Ibesikpo/Asutan Local Government Area of the state.
The Acting State Commander, NDLEA, Mr. Alfred Adewumi, said in Uyo on Saturday that the driver and one other person conveying the hemp fled the scene, but a lady in the bus was arrested.
According to him, the driver deceived the AKTC management by telling them that the bus developed fault at a point in Edo State.
He said, “The AKTC bus was intercepted within Uyo metropolis by members of the state’s joint taskforce, locally known here as Operations Thunder. Upon interception, the driver and one other person ran away.
“However, the young lady was arrested inside the vehicle. The lady, the exhibit and the AKTC bus, were transferred to NDLEA premises, Uyo, for onward investigation. I can assure you that we have also arrested the driver following a tip-off. Two other suspects had also been arrested in connection with incident. One of the suspects identified and introduced the driver to the main dealer.”
The seats in the vehicles, Adewumi said, were removed while the illicit items were in bags and bunches of plantain were placed on top of them. Big black polythene was used to cover the items.
He said, “When they got there, according to the story, the main suspect (still at large) was the one who removed the seats by himself from the vehicle, and then stored the cannabis sativa and then put the plantain on top of the cannabis sativa.
“So, it just shows you the audacity of the criminals and the kind of things they believe they are capable of doing.”
Managing Director, AKTC, Mr. Nsikak Jonny, decried the conduct of the driver and expressed shock that he indulged in such act.
He said apart from ensuring that those employed as drivers had the necessary qualifications, the company also ensures that they (drivers) are introduced to the management.
Jommy said, “When the bus was accosted by Operation Thunder, we learnt that the driver ran away. It was the employees of this company that went to search for him, got him arrested, and handed him over to the NDLEA.
“The driver right from the day he was caught trafficking hard drugs, has ceased to be our employee; the guarantors have been suspended for three months – the lucky ones can only be reabsorbed upon fulfilling some stringent conditions.”
Punch Nigeria
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