The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, has said it arrested 417 suspects for various drug related offences and secured 54 convictions between January and December 2023.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Olayinka Joe-Fadile, made this known yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
Joe-Fadile said the suspects comprised 340 males and 77 females nabbed for dealing in cannabis sativa, tramadol, diazepam, colorado and other psychotropic substances during the period under review.
He said eight tonnes of various narcotic and psychotropic substances valued at N135.6 million were seized by the command in the year under review.
The commander further said 54 of the 91 suspects charged to court by the command were convicted for various drug-related offences with jail terms, ranging from six months to 10 years.
“The command gave brief intervention via counselling to 246 people, comprising 205 males and 41 females, who used drugs. Thirteen people were rehabilitated and integrated back to society in the period under review.
“Efforts are underway to equip and re-purpose as a standard rehabilitation centre the acquired facility in Iseyin for the purpose of counselling and rehabilitation,” the commander said.
He said operatives of the command were constantly stationed at the state entry checkpoints, where they usually stopped a lot of drug traffickers allegedly moving drugs into the state and made a lot of arrests.
Joe-Fadile said the command was doing its best to clear all hot spots where drugs were sold daily in the state.
He called on the people of the state and other stakeholders to collaborate with the agency to rid the state of illicit drugs.
READ ALSO:MAN 2024 outlook: Manufacturing sector anticipates challenging H1
“We cannot be everywhere, but we try as much as we can to make good arrests from checkpoints and stop a lot of drugs from entering the state.
“We strongly believe that drugs are a catalyst for every crime and violence, so removing drugs from the equation enhances our drive towards a crime-free society.
“It is our collective effort against drug abuse that can sanitise our society,” the commander said.
In another development, the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Badagry, Lagos State, yesterday handed over eight sacks of seized Indian hemp worth N12.8 million to the NDLEA in Badagry.
The Base Internal Security Commander, Lt. Adedeji Adeyemi, who represented the commander, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, said naval operatives seized the Indian hemp on Monday at Abojedo community around Sultan Beach, in Badagry.
He said the seizure was made following a tip-off that suspected smuggling activities were taking place in the area.
“The intelligence report indicated that some persons were sighted offloading products suspected to be Indian hemp at Abojedo community, seaside of the FOB Area of Operations.
“Consequently, the Base Quick Response Team proceeded to the scene of the crime for investigation and possible arrest.
“The team conducted a cordon-and-search operation in the area and recovered eight sacks of the suspected weeds valued at N12.8 million.
“The suspected smugglers fled the scene on sighting our patrol team. The adjoining communities were also searched but no other products or suspects were found,’’ he said.
Recall that the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Mustapha Hussan launched `Operation Water Guard’ on November 9, 2023.
“The operation is aimed at denying smugglers and other criminal elements the freedom of action within Badagry and to ensure security and economic stability of the region,’’ he said.
Adeyemi said the handover was in line with the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures for Arrest, Detention and Prosecution of Persons (2016).
Receiving the exhibits, the Assistant Commander, Narcotics, Mr Emmanuel Ogbogoh, who represented the NDLEA Area Commander, Seme Special Command, Mr Owen Dinneys, promised that investigation would begin on the seized items.
He assured that whoever was involved in the illegal drugs smuggling into the country would be punished. He commended the Nigerian Navy for collaborating with the NDLEA in tackling drug trafficking in the country.
Ogbogoh stressed that the handing over of the seized substance showed that the NDLEA could not fight the menace alone.
