In a tumultuous turn of events, the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), along with their mobile police unit, faced a violent assault by enraged drug hawkers and touts in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The targeted raid, aimed at curbing the sale of fake, unregistered, and counterfeit drugs at the Area One motor park, encountered resistance from hawkers and touts who hurled stones and other dangerous objects at the enforcement team and accompanying journalists.
To quell the aggression, the mobile police responded with tear gas and sporadic gunfire into the air, successfully dispersing the assailants. Despite this intervention, two NAFDAC vehicles were vandalized during the altercation.
Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer Umar Suleiman, from the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the Federal Task Force at NAFDAC, revealed that the raid was prompted by intelligence received from the Department of State Security regarding the rampant activities of drug hawkers at the motor park.
Suleiman expressed his surprise at the level of aggression encountered, stating, “The attack is a normal thing for us in the investigation and enforcement department.”
He emphasized the necessity of being accompanied by armed Mobile Police (Mopol) and Investigating Police Officers during such operations.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Suleiman recounted, “We had not done half of the work when the drug hawkers absconded but mobilized in full force against us, throwing stones at us and destroying the glasses of the vehicles.”
The enforcement team was forced to retreat temporarily, planning to reinforce and return for future operations.
Despite the challenges faced, Suleiman confirmed that the seized drugs, including controlled substances like Rohypnol, Dizapam, Tramadol (500mg and 225mg), Cocodamol, and aphrodisiac, were valued at approximately N5 million.
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