Officers of the Anambra State Anti-Touting Agency (SASA) have arrested several individuals for violating the state’s directive on the Saturday statewide desilting of drainage channels and evacuation of waste.
The suspects, who were drivers and residents, were apprehended on the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway after they were found opening their shops, loitering, and driving around the state during the environmental sanitation exercise, contrary to government directives.
Officials of the agency said the defaulters would be taken to the agency’s headquarters in Awka for further disciplinary action, stressing that the enforcement was aimed at ensuring total compliance with the sanitation exercise.
Meanwhile, Onitsha recorded massive compliance as residents were seen clearing drainage channels and evacuating refuse from their surroundings throughout the exercise.
In a related event, SASA led by its Managing Director, Mr. Monday Nwokoye, destroyed illicit hard drugs worth over ₦50 million in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Speaking during the exercise on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Mr. Nwokoye said the hard drugs were recovered from Awka and its environs during the agency’s operations. He disclosed that suspects arrested in connection with the illegal drug trade had been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.
The SASA Managing Director explained that the seized drugs were destroyed to prevent them from finding their way back into circulation, warning drug dealers and peddlers to desist from operating in Anambra State or face the full weight of the law.
According to him, the confiscated substances included cocaine, Ghanaian loud, tramadol, cannabis sativa, mkpulu mmiri, and other illicit drugs.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
Nwokoye reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to carrying out its mandate without fear or favour. He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his continued support for the agency and assured residents that SASA would sustain its campaign against illicit drugs, touting, and other forms of criminality across the state.
He also urged Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities within their communities to the appropriate authorities, stressing that collective efforts are essential to building a safer, more secure, and prosperous Anambra State.
