By Asmau Ahmad with Agency Report
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Monday that 401 drug traffickers were arrested last year in Akwa Ibom. Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, the state NDLEA commander, Mrs Josephine Obi, said that the agency had secured conviction of 27 traffickers out of the number arrested.
She disclosed that the convicted traffickers were made up of 24 males and three females. Obi also said that those arrested were made up of 353 males while 48 of them were females. She said that the command seized illicit drug substances weighing 157.37kg as exhibits in addition to 228 litres of alcoholic concoction (mixture of Cannabis Sativa, herbs and roots). The commander further disclosed that other seizures included N138,630 monetary exhibits. Obi said that the feat was achieved during routine raid of illicit drugs joint and arrest of dealers in 2014.
“A total of 153 drug users were referred for counselling, made up of 142 males and 11 females,’’ she added.
Obi said that the agency do not prosecute drug users, but “we assist those who need assistance through counselling, which is in line with the mandate of the agency.”
She said that victims of drug abuse require early counselling to enable them refrain from the habit and start living normal life.
“This is why we always appeal to families of victims of drug abuse to contact us for early intervention.
“In the year 2014, this command carried out 130 drug preventive enlightenment lectures and advocacy talks in schools, NYSC, government agencies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs),’’ Obi said. She said that the agency was committed to creating awareness on the dangers associated with drug addiction.
