Date: 2017-06-24

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of 166 and 151 suspects and the seizure of 4,771.65kg and 3,498.035kg of drugs by the Kwara and Kogi state commands respectively.

Kwara State NDLEA Commandant, Mr. Ona Ogilegwu, said 152 males and 14 females were arrested for drug- related offences within the last 12 months.

Ogilegwu added that it also seized 4,771.65kg of illicit drugs, consisting 4,712.33kg of cannabis sativa and 59.32kg of psychotropic substances.

Speaking in Ilorin at a programme organised by the NDLEA, in collaboration with the state's Drug Abuse Control Committee, to commemorate the 2017 United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed: 'Listen First', Ogilegwu identified cannabis sativa, popularly called Indian hemp, as the drug mostly abused by youths and adults in the state.

He added that the command rehabilitated and discharged 40 drug-dependent persons and counselled 112 drug users during the period under review.

"The drug situation in Kwara State is becoming challenging as women have joined in the drug trade. In the period under review, 14 female suspects were arrested," he said.

The Chairperson of the state's Drug Abuse Control Committee, Mrs. Risikat Lawal, said the committee had been creating awareness among the populace about the danger inherent in illicit use of drugs and helping addicts.

Also, the Kogi State NDLEA Commandant, Alhaji Idris Bello, said no fewer than 151 suspects were arrested in connection with various drug-related offences between January and June 2017, adding that six of the suspects were women.

He said the command seized 3498.035kg of Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances such as Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol and Codeine in the period under review

The commandant said that 12 drug offenders had been sentenced to various terms in prison, with 10 cases pending at the Federal High Court, while 57 were counseled under a short intervention programme.