The Anambra State Government on Sunday evening demolished Airtight Guest House and Bar, an apartment that serves as a brothel, where a large cache of hard drugs was discovered on Saturday night.
Operatives of Agunechemba, a local security agency, had on Saturday busted the brothel, arresting its manager, storekeeper and barman, as well as 20 ladies suspected to be commercial sex workers and some male patrons.
The guest house, which is located at Y-Junction, Okpuno, Awka South LGA, had been identified as a den of criminals and drug peddlers/users. The operatives, who were led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Security, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, intercepted a large consignment of hard drugs from the store.
The manager and store operator of the guest house confessed to dealing in hard drugs, besides letting out their apartment to prostitutes for use as a short-time joint.
The manager of the guest house, Mr. Paul Chibuike, also known as “Mandela,” who hails from Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, said he was only managing the business for his master, whom he identified as an Nnewi man.
He revealed that his master also owns another drug outlet in Awka’s red-light district, Abakaliki Street, while also insisting that they monitor prostitutes to avoid bringing men to sleep over in the facility.
Some of the drugs found in the joint included Tramadol, Indian hemp (commonly known as “cana”), nitrous oxide (popularly called “laughing gas”), Rohypnol, and several other hard drugs. A locally made single-barrel short gun was also found during the raid.
The manager stated that the gun was abandoned by a guest who used the facility.
In a swift reaction, the Anambra State Government bulldozed the facility, citing the Anambra Homeland Security Law, which empowers the government to take over any property used for kidnapping, drugs and other crimes.
Emeakayi, during the demolition, warned property owners to ensure they verify the identity and activities of their tenants before giving out their property to avoid being caught in the web.
