No fewer than 120 suspected drugs traffickers and addicts have been arrested by the NDLEA in Kaduna State from January to date.

State’s Commander, Samuel Azige, said 20 convictions were recorded in the period under review.

Azige, who spoke on the sideline of road walk to mark the 2016 International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit Drug Trafficking, added that 15.599 tons of drugs were also recovered from the suspects.

The agency arrested 74 suspected drug traffickers, seized 15.342 tons of illicit drugs, secured 10 convictions and rehabilitated 68 drugs addicts from January to March.

While 44 suspects were arrested, 155 kilogrammes of drugs seized and 10 convictions secured from April to date,’’ he said.

He however noted that there has been a slight decrease in illegal drugs related offences in the state in the second quarter when compared with the first quarter of the year,’’ he said.

He attributed the success recorded by the agency as a collaborative effort with other security agencies in the state.

26 of every year have been set aside by the UNODC to enlighten the public on the ills of drug abuse.

The day helps government agencies and stakeholders to review successes in the fight against drug abuse and determine whether the trend is increasing or decreasing in our various communities.

Azige blamed the level of drug abuse in the society on joblessness, access to education, lack of parental care and peer group influence, among others.

At Murtala Square, the terminal point of the road walk, stakeholder’s rallied support for NDLEA in ridding the country of the menace of drug abuse.

Similarly, the official of the National Orientation Agency, Lawal Fatika commended NDLEA for the efforts and urged parents to pay attention to their children and ensure they imbibed good moral behaviour.

The road walk was organised by NDLEA in collaboration with Nigas Rehabilitation and Skills Acquisition Centre, Kaduna.

Some of the stakeholders who joined the walk include, National Orientation Agency, religious leaders and Red Cross Society among others, in company of security agencies.

Also, the Ondo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 66 people for various drug related offences in the state between January and May 2016.

Commander of the agency in the state, Mohammed Sokoto said this while speaking with journalists on the annual United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking themed : “Just Listen” held in Akure, the state capital.

According to him, the suspects included : 55 males and 11 females, noting that 22 out of the suspects had been charged to court and convicted to various jail terms during the period under review.

Sokoto added that the agency has also seized cannabis sativa also known as indian hemp weighing 1,348.62kgs within the period, stating that there was reduction in the demand of drug in the state as a result of the activities of the officers and men of the command.

The NDLEA boss said, ” We have no fewer than 23 people under counseling and seven have been rehabilitated. This command has destroyed 36.7 tons of cannabis at a farm land.

“Our campaign against drug abuse and trafficking in the state is yielding positive results . ”

As part of the efforts to eradicate drug trafficking and cultivation of cannabis, Sokoto said sensitisation programmes were carried out in 18 primary and secondary schools and two tertiary institutions in the state, assuring that the agency would not relent in the anti-drug struggle .