A suspect described as a notorious drug dealer based in the Lekki area of Lagos State is on the run after “crushing” an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with his luxury car, the agency has said.

The NDLEA has since launched a manhunt for the suspect whose home was undergoing a search last weekend, a statement by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed on Wednesday.

“Anti-narcotics officers of the Agency had on Friday 18th August stormed the residence of the wanted drug dealer located at 2/3 Adetola Ayeni close, Lekki, Lagos for a search and possible arrest following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit drugs in his house,” the statement said.

“Although he was not in the house when operatives got into his compound, he however returned while a search of his apartment was ongoing.”

Babafemi explained that the suspect, upon sighting NDLEA officers, put his car in reverse and knocked down one of the officers, pulling down his gate in the process before plunging the vehicle into the fence of the opposite compound.

The force of his car’s speed reportedly pulled down the concrete wall of his neighbour’s compound then dove out of the vehicle to escape.

“A thorough search of his apartment however led to the recovery of 10.5 kilograms of Loud, while the operative knocked down suffered multiple injuries all over his body and compound fracture on his two legs, for which he is currently on hospital admission for treatment,” he said.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd) is said to have directed the deployment of appropriate operational assets of the agency to smoke out the wanted suspect from his hiding.

He also approved adequate medical care for the injured officer so that he can get back on his feet as soon as possible.