Niger State: NDLEA arrests 286 suspects, seizes hard drugs

SEIZURE of 1,614.529 kg of various hard drugs and arrest of 286 suspects was made by the Niger State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) between January 2015 and January 2016, the State Commander, Mr. Joseph Iweanjuwa has disclosed.

Addressing newsmen in his office Wednesday, Iweanjuwa said the command convicted 66 offenders, 87 youths were counseled and rehabilitated while 8,400 ml of cough syrup with codeine was mopped up to prevent abuse.

“A breakdown of the drug seizures in 2015 are; 1,320 kg of dried weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, 44.27kg of Diazepam Tablets, 161.21 kg of Tramadol Tablets, 32.37 kg of Extol-5, 3.038kg of Rohypnol, 14.66kg of Nitrazepam and 0.0014kg of Cocaine”, the Commander said.

Iweanjuwa also disclosed that 12,000 tonnes of seized drugs are ready for destruction stating that the command is waiting for the permission of the court to carry out the exercise.

He lamented the increase of young women in the state who are involved in the abuse of cough syrup with codeine stating that this drug is gradually taking the place of alcohol in the state.

The NDLEA Boss pointed out that the agency needs to recruit more hands to beef up its manpower stressing that all hands must be on deck to stop drug abuse in the nation as drug problem is not the responsibility and duty of government and NDLEA alone.

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