The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities involving commercial motorcyclists, leading to the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in the trafficking of illicit drugs using motorcycles.
According to the spokesperson of the agency, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, during a targeted operation around the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ijaiye Bus Stop, and Agbado Railway Station Road, officers apprehended Soji Inawole, 40, while another suspect, identified only as Mufu, remains at large.
The suspects are believed to have been using Okadas to distribute drugs across multiple locations in the city.
Taskforce officials recovered a cache of illegal substances, including Colorado, Indian hemp, narcotic drugs, scissors, and other prohibited items concealed in a school bag.
Preliminary investigations also uncovered links between some Okada operators and the illicit drug trade, revealing that motorcycles were being used to transport drugs between brothels and other hot spots.
In addition to the narcotics bust, several motorcycles were confiscated for traffic violations and their alleged use in aiding criminal activities such as bag snatching, pickpocketing, and shoplifting.
“This discovery highlights the growing concern over the misuse of commercial motorcycles for criminal purposes, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained enforcement actions against recalcitrant riders who endanger public safety on Lagos highways,” Abdulraheem said in a statement.
The Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance policy towards criminal activity and affirmed its commitment to securing the lives and property of Lagos residents.
“This operation reflects our zero-tolerance policy against illegal activities that compromise the security of our communities. The suspects will face the full weight of the law as investigations continue,” Akerele stated.
He further encouraged members of the public to support law enforcement efforts by reporting suspicious behavior through the agency’s “See Something, Say Something” initiative.
The Taskforce, under Akerele’s leadership, has vowed to sustain its campaign to rid Lagos of criminal elements.
The arrested suspect has already been charged to court as investigations into the wider network continue.
