4 NDLEA OFFICERS, POLICEMAN WOUNDED IN GUN DUEL WITH ILLICIT DRUG DEALERS

WARRI -- FOUR Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) and one policeman received gunshot injuries after a fierce battle
with drug dealers last Wednesday when the NDLEA officials stormed their
supply route in Abbi, Ndokwa local government.

Commander of the NDLEA in Delta State, Aju Okopi-Amen who confirmed the
shoot-out to Vanguard yesterday noted that over 200kg of cannabis was
seized after the incident while three person were arrested.

According to the NDLEA commander, his men acting on information, had gone
to Abbi to smash the drug cartel there, but unknown to them, the drug
dealers were ready with arms to thwart it. "On sighting my men, they opened
fire, we then responded and subdued them with the help of the police who
were also with us.

"In fact, if you see the vehicle we took there, about four of them were
riddled with bullets you will be shocked how far these drugs dealers can
go", he said.

The NDLEA, he said would not be slowed down in the discharge of its duties,
Mr. Okopi,Amen said "even a serving military personnel was caught about two
months ago, the Army authorities promptly discharged him and we tried him
and right now he is in jail for three years.

The NDLEA boss disclosed that a lot of mental psychosis patients parading
the streets of Warri and other cities in Delta State were the handiwork of
cannabis and other deadly drugs saying, "it will surprise you to know that
even among schools, Delta State has more drop-outs than any other state in
the federation due to the related drugs usage."

Commenting on why some countries went ahead to legalize the usage of
marijuana, Okopi-Amen who noted that the headquarters of the Agency in
Warri would soon relocate to Asaba, Ogwashi Uku, pointed out that "the
(cannabis) we have in Nigeria is the deadliest form of marijuana. What they
take in those places don't land them in hospital because they have a limit.

"Aside this, here, we don't have the quality of medical facilities we need
to be able to cope with the problem that will arise from cannabis intake."

Okopi-Amen said that so far, this year, 70 persons have been convicted in a
federal high court Benin and jailed.