The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, has arrested 443 persons for alleged drugs related offences in Katsina State between January and June this year.

State NDLEA Commander, Maryam Sani, said this at a news briefing in Katsina as part of activities to commemorate the 2018 United Nations (UN) day against drug abuse and trafficking.

Sani said the command had seized 336.4043 kilograms of illicit drugs and 2,553.06 liters of cough syrup with codeine from the suspects, saying it was disheartening to note that the command arrested twenty-one women among the suspects.

“”In addition, 21 students of institutions of higher learning were arrested with 128 bottles of cough syrup with codeine,” she said.

The commander said 23 drug suspects had been sentenced to various jail terms, while 110 cases were at various stages of trial at the Federal High Court, Katsina.

Sani said the command was faced with problem of lack of operational vehicles and enough manpower to cover the state.

The commander also noted that the rate of trading in cough syrup with codeine had reduced drastically due to intensified enforcement of ban on the product by the agency’s operatives.

“We learned that consumers buy a bottle of cough syrup with codeine at over N2,000, while the traders have turned mobile carrying it in vehicles moving from one place to another,” she said.

She urged parents, religious organisations and other stakeholders to support the agency in its effort to preventing youths from engaging in drugs abuse and trafficking.

In Lafia, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Command in Nasarawa State, says it arrested a total of 63 suspected drug dealers and traffickers between July 2017 and June 2018.

NDLEA Commander, Sumaila Ethan, made this known while briefing newsmen in Lafia, as part of activities marking the 2018 United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Ethan said a total of 3,683 kilograms of suspected hard drugs were also seized during the period.
“We also destroyed a half acre of Indian hemp farm within the period under review,’’ he said.

Ethan explained that 54 out of the 63 arrested suspects, were successfully prosecuted and convicted at the Federal High Court in Lafia.

According to him, the hard drugs seized include 804.22 kilograms of Indian hemp, 2, 873.8 kilograms of tramadol (225mg), 5.3 grams of cocaine as well as 57.2 litres of codeine syrup.

He said a total of 180 drug addicts were rehabilitated through the agency’s counseling programme without a single case of relapse during the period.

“The combination of physical and spiritual counseling of drug users remain the best as attested to by the zero rate of relapse in our facility,” Ethan said.

The commander said the agency had also embarked on intensive sensitisation campaigns on the inherent danger of drug abuse in places of worship, prison formations, schools and markets across the state.

He said the agency was able to establish Drug-Free clubs in nine secondary schools across the state with the aim of reaching out to youth at an early stage to curb the menace of drug abuse.

Ethan said although, the NDLEA is doing its best to rid the state of illicit drugs, inadequate manpower has been a great challenge towards effective coverage of the state.

“We recently created four area commands which are strategically located in Keffi, Wamba, Akwanga and Karu Local Government Area (LGAs) of the state, cutting across the three senatorial zones.

“We believe that by the time the Federal Government fulfill its promise of recruiting 15,000 additional officers in the agency, the issue of inadequate manpower will be greatly addressed,” Ethan said.

He lauded Gov. Umaru Al-Makura, for his financial and logistic support, which had enhanced the operational activities of the agency in the state.

In Edo, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo Command, said it apprehended no fewer than 287 suspected illicit drug traffickers between June 2017 and May.

State Commander, Buba Wakawa said this in Benin at the grand finale of activities marking the 2018 United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Wakawa said the arrested suspected traffickers included 213 males and 74 females.

“The command also seized within the period, 43,664.4 kilogrammes of various illicit drugs, with suspected cannabis sativa accounting for about 42,466.7 kilogrammes.

“Psychotropic substance seized was 1,197.7 kilogrammes while cocaine and heroine seized amounted to 0.0489 kilogrammes and 0.0308 kilogrammes respectively.

“Within the period, the command discovered and destroyed 36 suspected cannabis sativa farms measuring approximately 58 hectares.

“The command counseled 189 drug dependent persons and reintegrated them into the society, while 34 convictions of suspected traffickers were secured.

“From the statistics of drug seizures, the problems of illicit drugs must not be treated with levity.

The seizures also called for celebration because of the colossal damage the drugs would have done to the society, if not intercepted,’’ he said.

Wakawa said there was need for all stakeholders to continue to critically reappraise drug situation, saying the state was confronted with a huge problem of cannabis cultivation, spreading over arable forests like wild fire.

“One of such areas is that highlighted by the theme which focuses on the role of parents listening to their children and youths,’’ Wakawa said.

In Jos, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized 2.9kg of illicit drugs and rehabilitated 129 drug dependent persons in plateau in the first six months of 2018.

Plateau State NDLEA Commander, Ibrahim Barji in Jos said the seized drugs consisted narcotics and psycho-tropic substances.

Barji, who spoke on the command’s activities to mark the 2018 International day against drug abuse, ‎said the command would not relent in the fight against drug trafficking, abuse and production in the state, saying the agency’s rehabilitation center currently had 21 drug dependent persons undergoing counseling and rehabilitation. ‎

The commander ‎commended the state government for providing the agency with logistics and financial support to enable it discharge its duties pro-actively.

Barji pleaded for more support from all stakeholders for continuous sensitisation of the public on the ills associated with drug abuse and peddling.

In Birnin Kebbi, the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 88 suspected drug dealers and seized 857.320 kilograms of illicit drugs and psychologic substance within six months in Kebbi.

State Commander, Suleiman Jadi, made this known at an occasion marking the United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

“The command is fighting very hard to make sure that drug abuse and illicit trafficking is reduced to the barest minimum.

“Between January and June this year, the command seized a total of 857.320kg of illicit drugs and psychotropic substance, while 88 suspects were arrayed. Out of this figure, 782.464kg are psychotropic substance,” Jadi said.

He said the agency was able to convict 23 offenders to various jail terms within the period while other cases are still pending at the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, parents should listen to their children often and render help to them before they could get hooked on drugs.

The Commander also called on the general public to always supply the command with useful information on the activities of drug dealers in their communities.

“We shall intensify our efforts by collaborating with Kebbi Government for a massive public enlightenment programmes on the harmful effects of drug abuse.”

He commended Wife of the governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu for her efforts to make the state drug free.

The theme for this year’s commemoration “Listen First”, is to encourage parents and society give listening ears to drug users so as to save them from the menace.

In Damaturu, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says the ban placed on tramadol has given rise to other forms of psychoactive stimulants.

NDLEA Commander in Yobe, Apeh Reupen said this while speaking at the 2018 commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Damaturu.
“Many emerging psychoactive substances are now being marketed in replacement of tramadol.
“The potency of these locally invented drugs is similar to the synthetic one.
“The emerging problem of the new psychoactive substances especially among the youth in the state is becoming a matter of serious concern,” Reupen said.

He added: “In spite of our campaign to reduce drug trafficking and abuse, record available still shows that the arrest and seizure of illicit drugs is on the increase.”

Reupen therefore appealed to states government and individual organisations to support the war against drug abuse.

“I call on all and sundry to rise to the occasion and wage credible war against this monster that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society,” he said.

He commended sister agencies for their assistance especially in intelligence gathering and manpower support to the NDLEA.