The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 184 suspected drug dealers and secured the conviction of six others in Akwa Ibom state between January and July.
The NDLEA Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Maria Ilugbuhi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo, that 154 of the suspects were males while 30 were females.
She added that during the period, the command also seized 96.39 kilogrames of hard drugs from the suspects.
The public relations officer said the seized drugs included cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa and psychotropic substance.
She said that the Drug Demand Reduction Unit (Counseling Unit) of the agency had counseled, rehabilitated and reunited six of the suspects with their families.
Ilugbuhi said that there was high prevalence of use of cocaine and combined substances than cannabis sativa in Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom.
She attributed the success of the agency in arresting the suspects to the good working relationship and synergy between it and other security agencies in the state.
The PRO, however, said that inadequate funding and logistics were some of the challenges the command faced.
She urged the people to endeavour to provide the agency with useful information on drug dealers and users for prompt action.
Ilugbuhi said the agency was working hard to reduce illicit drug use and trade in the state and advised the people, especially the youths, to shun the vice.
NDLEA has extended its dragnet in search of drug dealers and addicts to major ports, including the airports and border posts across the country.
A lot of persons have been arrested in Plateau, Ondo and Ekiti states in recent crackdown.
