They obviously thought they had it well worked out, offering a whopping N500m bribe in lieu of the illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion.
Unfortunately for them, operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force police refused to fall for it, and now, they have been taken into custody awaiting the next directive from the police high command.
Officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) who carried out the operation, in collaboration with divisional police said it followed months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The raid, which took place in an apartment within an estate in Mende, Maryland, Lagos, led to the recovery of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect.
Addressing journalists at the scene on Saturday, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, said the kingpin was apprehended on May 19, with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere.
“The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
While commending the team for the success of the operation, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu:
“Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
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“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
What if the officers had accepted the N500m bribe?
Well, Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
According to the team, exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
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