The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 194 drug suspects and confiscated 23.6 kilogrammes of cannabis and other drugs in nine months in Delta State.
The Commandant, NDLEA, Delta State, Mr Sumaila Ethan, who disclosed this last Thursday in Ogwashi-Uku, added that out of those arrested were 169 males and 25 females.
According to him, the women are mainly involved in the sales of the substances.
He said the command in a single operation intercepted and seized 17 tonnes of cannabis concealed in a fuel tanker transported to the state as fuel.
Ethan said that apart from cultivating cannabis, the state also served as store for cannabis brought in from the neighbouring Edo and Ondo states.
“The theme for this year international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is, “New Psychoactive Substances”, while the slogan is “Make health your new ‘Hi’ in Life Not Drugs”. “The command seized 23.6 kilogrammes of assorted exhibits such as cannabis, cocaine, heroine, psychotropic and other drugs,’’ he said.
Ethan said the command secured 30 convictions within the nine months, while other cases were still pending in various courts.
He said that the command also counselled and got 12 clients integrated back to the society, while other three clients were presently undergoing counselling within the command.
He said that the command had apart from counselling and giving lectures to students in secondary schools and the higher institutions is also encouraging them to set up clubs to fight drug abuse in their institutions.
According to him, it is a herculean task to fight against users of the exhibits because most communities cultivate, earn their living and train their children from the proceeds realised from cannabis.
Ethan, however, called on the state government to partner the agency in order to reduce the impact of drug abuse on the people, mostly the youths.
