The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested one Yusuf Gongpolai Adams, 34, serving military personnel, with 81 concealed parcels of Cannabis Sativa along the Bauchi-Maidugur expressway.
Mr Gongpolai is attached to the Nigerian Army’s 145 Battalion Abia State. At the moment, he is undergoing a course of training at the Nigerian Army School of Environmental and Science Technology Benue.
Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, Umar Mamman Sanda said this in Bauchi during a press conference at the Command’s headquarters.
Sanda said the suspect was arrested while heading to Darazo local government area of Bauchi State on a Toyota Highlander Jeep.
“The suspect is attached to the Nigerian Army, 145 Battalion, Abia State, and he is presently on a development course at the Nigerian Army School of Environmental and Science Technology, Benue State”.
“A thorough search was conducted on the vehicle and 81 parcels of dry leaves suspected to be cannabis were found in his possession, one pair of army uniform, a helmet and charms amongst others,” the Commissioner said.
Sanda said Gongpolai will be handed over to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for prosecution after the police complete all the necessary investigations into the matter.
Gongpolai, while responding to questions from journalists, denied having any idea that his vehicle is ladened with lanced Cannabis Sativa.
“I am a Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army. One of my friends (he refused to disclose his name) begged me to help him deliver the vehicle to someone in the state, he told me that he had sold the vehicle to him but he could not come to Benue to pick it up.
I trusted him because we have been friends for a long time, I did not search the vehicle, I just drove it, mine was just to deliver it and go back. Not until it was searched and the things we discovered, I never knew what was inside,” he said.
