The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking in Lagos State. In an intelligence-driven operation conducted in late December, personnel from the Joint Task Force South West, known as Operation AWATSE, apprehended six individuals suspected of dealing in illicit substances.
Intelligence-Led Raids Yield Results
The operation, which took place on December 28, was focused on areas around Igando, Tatawu, and Egbeda in Lagos. Air Commodore Muhammed Imam, who serves as the Commander of the Base Services Group and the Air Component Commander for Operation AWATSE, disclosed the details. He stated that the arrests were a direct result of sustained patrols and raids under a new phase called Operation Ember Guard.
"With over 18,000 raid and patrol operations carried out, and in this light, on December 28, while leading an intelligence-led operation... we arrested six drug suspects," Imam explained.
A Cache of Dangerous Substances Recovered
The haul recovered from the suspects was substantial and varied, pointing to a diversified illicit trade. The items seized included:
- Crack cocaine
- 60 wraps of a substance known as 'loud'
- 40 bottles of codeine cough syrup
- Kolanut mixed with Bacardi
- Six barcodes
- Two containers of Russian cream
In addition to the drugs themselves, officers also confiscated paraphernalia used in the trade, such as electronic scales, crushers, and other psychotropic drugs including Rohypnol and ice.
Broader Mandate of Operation AWATSE
Air Commodore Imam emphasized that Operation AWATSE was established with a wide-ranging security mandate. Its primary goal is to protect critical national assets, specifically to halt pipeline vandalism and the theft of crude oil and petroleum products along the 72-kilometre pipeline from Atlas Cove Point to the Mosimi Depot.
However, its scope extends far beyond that. "The operation is also an anti-banditry, anti-kidnapping, anti-robbery and anti-drug abuse operation," he stated. The launch of Operation Ember Guard was a specific directive from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, following a Federal Government order, aimed at denying criminal elements in the South West any freedom of action.
Seamless Handover to NDLEA
Following the arrests, the six suspects and all recovered exhibits were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the agency with the statutory mandate to prosecute drug-related offences.
Stephen Oboshua, the NDLEA Deputy Commander of Narcotics and Area Commander for Teju, received the suspects. Representing the NDLEA leadership in Lagos, he commended the Nigerian Air Force for its proactive efforts. "We appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force for taking it upon themselves, in the course of their duties, to effect the arrest of these six suspects and the drugs being displayed here," Oboshua said, highlighting the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling the nation's drug problem.
This operation underscores the military's expanding role in domestic security and the ongoing, multi-agency battle against drug trafficking networks operating in Nigeria's commercial nerve centre.
