NDLEA arrests 123, seizes 28,163kg illicit drugs in Ondo

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ondo State Command, on Monday, disclosed that about 123 people have been arrested for various drug-related offences, while about 28, 163kg of hard drugs and psychotropic substance have been seized in the state.

Disclosing this to newsmen in Akure, Ondo state capital, during the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Haruna Gagara, said the people were arrested within January and June this year.

According to the commander, who gave the breakdown of the arrest to include 10 females and 113 males, said the offenders were arrested at different locations within the state.

The NDLEA boss said “eleven male defendants were convicted and sentenced to various jail term. Following the arrests, a total seizure of 14,247.16kg of hard drugs and the psychotropic substance comprising 13,916.158kg of cannabis sativa, 2.9gramms of cocaine, 3.2gramms of heroine, 8.65kg of tramadol and 333.75 litres of such skuchies, weighing 322.kg, were made.”

“A total of four vehicles and two houses used in transportation and storage of illicit drugs respectively were seized. These properties will be forfeited to the Federal Government in due course.

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“Over 120 hectares of the illicit farms were destroyed within the period under review and efforts are on top gear to destroy the rest before the criminals harvest them.”

Gagara who lamented over some challenges confronting the agency, especially in the area of logistics, noted that the development had been affecting the fight against drug dealing in the state.

He called on the state government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the agency in reducing drug trafficking and abuse to the barest minimum

He said ” We are asking for cooperation and supports from the stakeholders to come to our aid in the area of provision of operational vehicles and other logistics to enable us to carry out our duties effectively,”