The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, destroyed psychoactive drugs and other substances valued at over N400m in Igbe, Ikorodu area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said the illicit items were recovered during a raid on criminal hideouts and two other sources based on intelligence gathering.
According to him, drugs and arms promote crime.
He added that it was based on this that the command intensified the fight against hard drug sale and consumption in order to stamp out criminality in the state.
Imohimi explained that since the beginning of the year, the command had been able to seize large quantities of cannabis, cocaine, heroin, Tramadol, codeine and other psychoactive substances.
The CP praised the synergy between the police and other security agencies, noting that the collaboration had paid off in the course of his service in the state.
He also thanked the state government for assisting the police in tackling crime in Lagos.
Due to storage space constraints, the CP added that the police had to apply to the court for permission to publicly destroy the illicit drugs, noting that the stores where they were kept had been overstretched.
Imohimi stated, “Between the first day of January and now, we have been able to recover the following categories of drugs: Indian hemp, cocaine, heroin, Tramadol, codeine and other psychoactive substances, with a street value of well over N400m.
“One good thing I am happy about since I came to Lagos is the assistance I have been receiving from both the state government and other security agencies. I went into early partnerships with the other security agencies, which are well represented here today, and most importantly, with the state government.
“This synergy with them has paid off as we are witnessing the destruction of these psychoactive drugs and other substances.
“Those of us, who are students of police science, will know that there is a very close nexus between drugs and crime. In fact, the two strongest elements for the commission of a crime are the availability of arms and drugs, and that is why I have taken very seriously the fight against drug sales, consumption and proliferation in the city.
“In that wise, since most of our stores and exhibit rooms are filled to capacity, we decided to approach the court for permission to publicly destroy these substances.”
The CP assured Lagosians that the partnership with the other security agencies, the state government as well as community-based groups would be strengthened.
He added that the police would go from community to community and from street to street to rid the state of drugs.