The Adamawa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested no fewer than 454 suspected illicit drug traffickers/peddlers from June 2023 until date.
The state commander of NDLEA, Samson Agboalu, disclosed this on Friday at a news conference to begin the commemoration of the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the state.
World Drug Day, with the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” is celebrated annually on June 26 globally.
Mr Agboalu said the arrest figure made by the agency reflected a 9.38 per cent decrease from the 501 arrests made in the previous year.
He noted that the drug seizures significantly increased, with 4,732.128 kilogrammes of hard drugs confiscated.
”This is a 75 per cent increase from the 1,164.750 kg seized between June 2022 and June 2023.
“These seizures include a range of substances such as Cannabis Sativa, Methamphetamine (ice), Cocaine, Tramadol, Exol-5, Diazepam tablets, Codeine-based syrup, Rohypnol tablets, and Pentazocine injections.
“Our drug demand reduction (DDR) efforts have also been fruitful, with 107 residential clients treated, counselled, and rehabilitated, and 222 trafficking clients receiving brief intervention counselling,” he said.
Speaking on prosecution efforts and forfeitures from June 2023 to date, he said 148 individuals were convicted, a notable increase from 115 convictions recorded between June 2022 and June 2023.
“The highest sentences handed down were between 10 and five years’ imprisonment, with the least being six months.
“Monetary forfeiture recorded an increase, with the sum of N851,153 forfeited to the federal government and deposited into the Treasury Single Account (TSA), compared to N729,480 in the previous year,” he said.
The NDLEA commander called for the adoption of preventive measures as a strategic approach to address drug abuse in the state.
He said it was imperative to invest in prevention through increased public education and collaboration with communities by ensuring youths have access to accurate information to discourage drug use.
(NAN)
