On Monday, the Delta and Edo states’ National Drug Law Enforcement Agency confirmed that in the previous year, 1,021 suspects had been arrested for drug-related offences.
In a speech at the command centre in Ogwashi Uku, in the state’s Aniocha South Local Government Area, the agency’s commander in Delta State, Tunde John, said 75 of the 558 suspects who had been arrested for drug-related offences had been found guilty.
He declared, “The agency’s efforts to monitor drug demand and control the supply of drugs had resulted in the arrest of 558 suspects and the seizure of exhibits weighing more than three tonnes. We have destroyed three significant cannabis farms totaling about 25 points, or 16 hectares, just this year.
“The command also succeeded in getting 75 people convicted of drug-related crimes between June 2022 and June 2023. We were able to provide counselling to 376 people, 312 men and 55 women, regarding the drug demand issue, which entails counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, raising public awareness, and sensitising the public about the inherent dangers drug abuse causes in society.
John added that the agency had destroyed over 25 hectares of cannabis farmland during the time period under consideration.
In a similar vein, Buba Wakawa, the commander of the NDLEA in Edo State, confirmed the 463 suspects who were detained between June 2022 and May 2023 were connected to drug trafficking in the state.
In an interview with journalists on Monday as part of celebrations for the United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, Wakawa made the statement.
In addition, 42 drug traffickers were found guilty in the state during the time period under review, according to Wakawa, who was represented by Deputy Commander Emmanuel Ejiko. He also noted that 92 drug trafficking cases were still pending at the Federal High Court.
He said, “I can tell you that between June 2022 and May 2023, the NDLEA arrested 463 suspects who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Edo State.
“The command also destroyed 40 cannabis farms totaling 67.5 hectares and seized 38,337.2889 kilogrammes throughout Edo State. 18 vehicles used for illegal drug trafficking were seized, and 362 drug addicts were treated and reintegrated back into their families.
According to Wakawa, the command has been fighting drug abuse by raising awareness of the risks associated with substance use and trafficking.
Insufficient office space, a lack of operational vehicles, and a lack of willingness on the part of the public to provide the agency with useful information are other issues he mentioned.
Wakawa promised that the organisation would keep fighting drug users and traffickers until the state was free of the threat.
