NAN-H-13
Drugs
Uyo, Feb. 26, 2017 (NAN) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akwa Ibom said it arrested 301 suspected drug offenders and seized about 405.2 kilogrammes of hard drugs in 2016.
Spokesperson of the NDLEA in Akwa Ibom, Maria Ilugbuhi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo on Sunday.
Ilugbuhi said that 251 of the suspects were males while 50 were females.
She said that 15 of the offenders had been convicted and were serving various jail terms.
According to her, the command has also arrested 37 suspects and seized 43.76 kilogrammes of hard drugs in the last one month.
The narcotic official said that some of the seizures made included cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances.
Ilugbuhi said that the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the agency counselled and rehabilitated some drug addicts who had been reunited with their families.
She expressed dismay over the high prevalence of cocaine and combined substance usage in Uyo, the state capital.
The NDLEA official advised those involved to desist from the harmful habit to avoid destroying their lives, arrest and prosecution.
Ilugbuhi urged the public to volunteer information on hard drug dealers and users for the agency’s prompt action. (NAN)
IE/EMO/WOJ
(Edited by Ejike Obeta / Wale Ojetimi)