By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that its operatives arrested no fewer than 501 drug offenders, 10 of whom are women, in Adamawa State in the past 12 months.
The agency also disclosed that an assortment of illicit substances amounting to 1,164.7kg were seized within the period in view.
Adamawa State NDLEA commander, Femi Agboalu, made this disclosure on Tuesday, 20 June, 2023, while addressing newsmen at the state headquarters of the NDLEA in Yola, the state capital
The press briefing was part of the programme to mark this year’s United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which will culminate in a ceremony scheduled for next Monday, 26 June, 2023.
Agboalu said the arrests and seizures between June 2022 and May 2023 were the result of the agency’s drug control efforts in the state.
The seized drugs, according to him, included Cannabis sativa, cocaine, and other psychotropic substances such as tramadol syrups and tablets, pentazocine injections, cough syrup with codeine, and formalin, among others.
The state NDLEA boss disclosed that the prosecution unit of the agency secured the conviction of 117 drug offenders who were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment within the period in view, while 71 drug cases are pending.
The agency also secured the final forfeiture of a Corolla S car whose owner was sentenced to eight months in prison in December 2022, while an interim forfeiture was also obtained for a two-bedroom property in the Ngurore town of Yola South LGA, where 259 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 226kg were discovered.
“The suspect (connected to the Ngurore property), Sani Musa, was arrested at Ngurore market on 25 May 2023, in a mop-up counter-narcotics operation after eight months of being at large,” Agboalu said.
The press briefing was held under the auspices of the Adamawa State Drug Control Committee chaired by Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta.
In her address, Prof Farauta urged her fellow political figures not to encourage drug abuse for selfish reasons.
“This government does not encourage illicit drug use. And we all have roles in efforts to ensure a drug-free society. Political leaders in particular should see that the people with them keep their natural senses. You can use people who are sane to press your interest,” Farauta said.
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