The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bayelsa State Command, says its operatives have arrested 324 persons in connection with abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs in the state between January and December 2017.
The NDLEA also said the agency recorded a seizure of 253.237kg of different types of illicit drugs within the period.
The Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs, Mr. Osakwe Ikenna, said in a statement on Friday that of the 324 suspects, 220 were males while 104 were females.
He said cannabis accounted for the highest quantity of illicit drugs with a weight of 134kg, followed by other psychotropic substances weighing 119.083kg.
He said other substances such as cocaine, heroin and mixture of cannabis and local gin, otherwise known as “monkey tail”, were also recovered in various quantities.
According to him, the feat was achieved through continuous surveillance, intelligence gathering as well as constant raid on black spots and illegal drug peddlers.
Ikenna said, “The command observed that there was a dangerous increase in the trend of abuse of psychotropic substances, especially tramadol, codeine, cough syrup and diazepam, among others. He said these items were the most abused among youths in Bayelsa.
He said, “The command in the year under review also embarked on several sensitisation outreaches.
“Between January and December 2017, the command’s drug rehabilitation centre successfully rehabilitated five drug dependent persons.
“A total of 240 clients also underwent counselling for drug-related issues in the command’s Drug Demand Reduction Unit.”
He quoted the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Abdullahi Abdul, as assuring the citizens that the command would continue to ensure that the state was uninhabitable for drug dealers.
No comments:
Post a Comment