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Two weeks after the Ogun state Police command claimed to have busted a popular drug cartel known as Mayas in Abeokuta, the state capital and uncovered N2,722,750 cash and over N10m worth of hard drugs after raiding the cartel. Investigation by Sodiq Ojuroungbe of PLATFORM TIMES revealed that partial activities have resumed in the drug market.
On a very sunny Tuesday, this reporter alongside two other people paid a visit to the drug cartel which is located around Sabo area of Abeokuta. The two persons who accompanied this reporter to the drug market were frequent visitors already known by many people at the cartel. Before the visit, these guys already tried to convince this reporter from going to the cartel due to a reported cult clash currently going on between two rival cult groups of Aiye and Eiye fraternity in the area.
One of the guys identified as Biggy told this reporter that the Mayas has become a dangerous place to visit in the last one week due to the cult clash. Biggy explained that the cult groups have turned the place to an avenue where they take revenge on one another. He therefore discouraged this reporter from going to the notorious cartel to get whatever drugs this reporter wants to get.
He said, “you don’t need to go to Mayas before you can get all these hard drugs in Abeokuta, there are many other places we can go to. I can take you to Garba at Ago-Oba or we go to Sapon around that Oju-Ina, you can get whatever you want there.
“Also, I am sure you are aware that the Police busted the place some weeks ago and whatever we learnt is that the Police have vowed to come back to the place at unexpected time, so, those guys selling drugs there are trying to be careful about how they sell in the market.”
However, this reporter insisted that he will love to visit the drug cartel, he also promised to pay the guys for the job if they could help in leading him to the drug market. After some minutes of persuasion, the two regular customers of Mayas agreed to take this reporter to the market.
From Lafenwa, this reporter alongside the two guys took a bike going to Odo-Eran, a popular slaughter’s slab in Abeokuta. After alighting at the market, this reporter was told that the remaining journey to the Mayas will be on foot. The distance between the drug cartel and the slaughter’s slab is just about three minute walk, as it was observed that activities happening in the slab could be visibly seen from the cartel, same as the people in the slab can also see what is happening in the drug market.
At first, this reporter thought the cartel was meant for something else, but a close look at what was done showed that the place is meant for smokers, as few guys were seen sitting comfortable smoking heavily . Although, this reporter learnt from conversation by one of the guys that took him to the cartel and a seller that the place is not the way it used to be since the raid by the police.
A seller who this reporter got to know his name as Akilapa told Biggy in Yoruba that, “Since the police came to this place, this place has not been the way it used to be. Many of those yahoo boys that used to come here are no more coming.
“We are looking for another way to run our package. The money they collected from us no pain us like the goods that were seized.”
From observation by this reporter, there are not less than five different kiosks located at strategic locations around the drug market. It was gathered that the kiosks is owned by different sellers who engage in different sales of hard drugs such as Collorado known as CO, Skunk known as SK, codeine, 524 drugs, Rephnol, weed known as igbo, among others.
.. Mayas not hideout as portrayed by Police, as drug dealers operate cartel like normal open market
It would be recalled that the state police commissioner, Edward Ajogun while displaying the exhibits uncovered from the drug cartel at the Police state headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, claimed that the police acted on a tip off.
The police boss also claimed that the drug cartel was a hideout that was just discovered by the Police. But, findings revealed by this reporter showed that the place was not a hideout as claimed by the Police.
It was observed that the place called Mayas is an open space where drug dealers run their businesses without any fear or rancour despite a Divisional Police Station was just about some meters away from the cartel.
From observation apart from the kiosks meant for storing drugs, it was also observed that there are benches erected at different location for smokers who intended to spend more time in the environment. It was also observed that at the other side of the drug market, there are women selling food and drinks so as to make the merriment in the market complete.
This is not the first time Police is raiding this place, Drug dealer
One of the sellers who seems to be a friend to the guys that accompanied this reporter to Mayas insisted that there is more to the raid done by the Police.
The drug seller who claimed the raid was not the first time alleged that some of the butchers at the slab are those that reportedly sell them out to the police.
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He said, “this is not the first time Police are raiding this place, they have always done that in the past when we don’t do the normal thing on time. Before SARS was scrapped, they have come to the place on several occasions. We do settle them, so, I am surprise this happened just like that.
“What I think is responsible was because of the issue between Aje and some of the butchers, they were the one that sell us out to the Police. Our source at the Police was not aware of the raid on time and that was why they were able to cart away such big amount and drugs. If only we get to know on time, we would have done something to avert that big loss.”
We now engage in home delivery for our yahoo customer, says Drugs dealer
After one of the sellers engage in cult sign greeting with one of the guys that took this reporter to the cartel, he took a close look at this reporter and thought this reporter was a yahoo boy looking at the way he dressed.
The seller asked one of the guys that accompanied this reporter who he was and from the hailing he concluded by saying: “you don’t need to bring this omo olope ( yahoo boy) here na (sic). It is too risky for him because anything can happen in the next minute here. Cult clash is presently going on and as you know those guys no send anyone (sic).
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“Since he be big boy, he can always get what he wants by ordering. We ‘don dey’ do home delivery for our big boys customers. All you need to do is just order for what you want by calling me or any seller you have their number. We go arrange on how to meet with you and give you whatever drugs you want.
“Infact, Aje (the main distributor at the drug cartel) is thinking of relocating from this place, na those butchers sell us out to the police and that was because we had issue, they thought the only thing they can do is to deal with us via the police, imagine, people that have been our neigbours for years.”
