Troops Bust Drug Syndicate, Arrest Fake Police Officers with Two Cannabis-Laden Hilux Vans in Taraba

As part of on-going efforts to rid the country of bandits and other criminal elements, troops under the aegis of Operation Lafiya Nakoya, have apprehended two fake policemen at the Takum Junction, Wukari council area of Taraba State, conveying substances suspected to be cannabis. 

The development is contained in a release made available to newsmen by Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad.

According to the statement, troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, who were on regular patrol with operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, intercepted the two suspects who were dressed in mobile police uniforms following the receipt of credible intelligence. 

Investigations revealed that none of the two is a serving police personnel. One of them, 71 year-old Monday George, is a dismissed Police ASP while the other is 41 year-old Ezeugo Destiny Uche.

They were found in one of the two Hilux vans conveying the illicit drugs from Ondo State onward Adamawa while occupants of the second van abandoned the vehicle and fled on sighting the troops

The troops recovered a total of 1,134 blocks of cannabis from the two vehicles. Along the two vehicles and suspects, the recovered drugs have been handed over to the NDLEA office in Wukari for further investigation and prosecution. 

In his reaction to the breakthrough, Commander of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops and NDLEA operatives for their synergy and resilience.

He reiterated that the Brigade’s commitment to ensuring that Taraba State remains unsafe for criminals and drug traffickers remains intact.

Brigadier General Uwa urged members of the public to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance ongoing operations across the state.