The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 4, 736 persons for suspected involvement in drug trafficking between January and August 2018.
According to a statement signed by the Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs, Jonah Achema, the arrests were made up of 4, 395 male and 341 female.
The agency said a total of 80.73 metric tons of the illicit substances were seized from the suspects, noting that cannabis sativa, also known as wee-wee, the only drug crop cultivated in Nigeria accounted for 59.2 tons of the total drug seizures while Methamphetamine which is fast gaining currency in local production, accounted for 119.37 kilograms.
Also Tramadol and Cough Syrup with Codeine, the two pharmaceutical drugs of abuse, accounted for 16.969 tons and 7.973.5 metric tons, respectively.
“Within this same period, the agency has prosecuted a total of 490 suspected drug offenders out of which it secured 485 convictions with four acquittals. The court struck out of the cases.
“The agency has destroyed 267 metric tons of seized drugs this year alone. The public destruction by burning exercise which has taken place between January and August was carried out in Edo State where 136 metric tons were destroyed, Ondo State where the agency destroyed 110.5 metric tons and Adamawa State with the destruction of14.4 metric tons.The Agency destroyed 6.21 tons in Jigawa State, NDLEA said.
The statement said the agency has also stepped up its measures in countering the proliferation of clandestine laboratories and illicit production of methamphetamine, disclosing that from January till date, three clandestine laboratories have been discovered and dismantled.
This is a remarkable effort considering the secrecy in which methamphetamine activities are shrouded,” it added.
NDLEA said it has reinforced the effort to reduce drugs movement in the streets of several cities and reduction efforts would now involve counseling of drug dependent person.
The agency said anti-drug use messages were also taken to motor parks, schools, worship centres, NYSC Orientation camps and other public places.
