The Akwa Ibom State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said that it arrested 30 drug suspects with 20.9 kilogramme of cannabis between last month and this month.
The Area Commander of the agency in Eket, Mrs Imaette Umoumana, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Eket.
She said that two physically-challenged persons were among those arrested for their alleged involvement in the drug trafficking.
The commander said that the suspects were arrested with five kilogrammes of substances suspected to be heroine and 5.9 kilogrammes of cocaine within the same period in Eket.
Umoumana said the suspects were arrested using “classified informants’’ and surveillance by men and officers of the command.
“Immediately I took over, I notice that there were some smoking spots in Eket, I moved into action with my men and arrested 30 drug suspects,’’ she said.
The area commander said that the suspects were arrested in Eket, Nsit Ubium and Etinan Local Government Area, noting that the suspects had been transferred to the NDLEA Headquarter in Uyo for further interrogation and prosecution.
The area commander said that the command had been counselling drug users with a view to rehabilitating them
“After the counselling, we release them to their families and call them later for continuous Counselling,’’ she added.
Umoumana said that a security officer in Aniekpene Afaha Primary School in Eket, Mr Ekemini Inyang was arrested for allegedly selling illicit substances in the school premises.
“We arrested the security officer of the primary school who was using the school premises as a joint, after school hours, he sells Indian hemp to the people.’’
She said further that another man was arrested for allegedly cultivating Indian hemp in Esit Eket Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.
Umoumana said that the command had also commenced intensive enlightenment campaign and counselling for drug users in the area.
She appealed to stakeholders, village chiefs, community leaders, chairmen of Local Governments and youths leaders to assists and give useful information to the NDLEA to enable the agency to achieve its set objectives.
“We need necessary assistance so that we can carry out both operational and enlightenment aspects of our job,” she said.
