The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi Command, said on Saturday that it had arrested 94 suspects, including seven women, over drug related offences between January and June.
Alhaji Idris Bello, Commander of the agency in the state, disclosed this in a statement in Lokoja.
The statement was issued ahead of the forthcoming 2016 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with the theme ”Listen First,” scheduled for June 26.
Bello said that the command also seized two tons of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) and other psychotropic substances like Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol and Codeine.
He said that nine drug law offenders were sentenced to various jail terms in prison upon conviction.
According to him, the prosecution of a suspected gang leader, Al-Hassan Idris, alias 40-40, on the orders of the Office of National Security Adviser is on-going.
Bello said the command also impounded six vehicles, counselled 58 drugs users and rehabilitated seven drugs addicts including a girl during the period.
He also revealed that over 200 drivers were screened for possible abuse of different drugs as part of the company’s measures to reduce the rate of drug-induced road accidents.
According to him, the command, in the last six months, also arrested and transferred non-drug related suspects to the police and destroyed 23 tons of drugs.
He said that the command, apart from dislodging a drug haven in Obajana, discovered and destroyed hectares of cannabis farms in Isanlu, Ife-Olukotun, Ogori-Magongo hills and Ankpa.
Bello said the NDLEA also secured an order of forfeiture for 39 vehicles and nine motorcycles, out of over 63 of such vehicles used for the conveyance of hard drugs.
He said the command was facing challenges of inadequate operational vehicles, lack of rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts and insufficient funding among others.
The commander appealed to citizens to report cases of drug abuse and suspected persons to the authorities to help curb the menace of production, trafficking and abuse of hard drugs.
