NDLEA arrests 16, recovers 672.6g of hemp in Jigawa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 16 suspects drug dealers and recovered 672.6g of substance suspected to be hemp during a raid in Dutse.

Mr Oko Michael, the Deputy Commandant-in-charge of Operations and Intelligence in the Jigawa Command of the agency, made this known to newsmen in Dutse on Monday.

Michael said one of the suspects is a female, adding that the operation was carried out based on the instruction of the state government.

“These guys have become a nuisance in the area. So, we were approached by high ranking officials of the party based on the instruction of the state government,’’ Michael said.

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According to him, dealers hide under the cover of petty trading to sell the drugs to users.

He said that “352.6g of the exhibit belongs to the female suspect and 330g was recovered from her kiosk, while 22.6g was recovered from her residence during a follow-up.’’

Michael added that 320g was recovered from another suspect, adding “definitely we are going to prosecute the two dealers and the sales boy’’ among them.

He said that users among the suspects would be counselled and released.

Michael said the command had launched a manhunt to arrest three of the suspects who are on the run.