A total of 399 suspected drug traffickers were arrested by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last year while over 45,743.19kg of various drugs mainly cannabis sativa commonly known as hemp or marijuana confiscated, the Commander, Mr Buba Wakawa has disclosed.
The anti-drug boss said that arrested included 271 males and 68 females while 45,697.14kg of cannabis, 45.75kg of tramadol, 0.170 grams of diazepam, 0.100 grams of butazol, cocaine 0.0196 of cocaine and heroin 0.0103 of heroin were confiscated by the agency.
According to Wakawa, cannabis has the largest share of the seized drugs, noting that over 32.0975552 hectares of cannabis plantation located across various local government areas of the state were identified and destroyed just as 12 vehicles and three motorcycles used for conveying illicit drugs were impounded from drug traffickers last year.
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Wakawa said that 38 drug offenders including two women were convicted at the Federal High Court, Benin City even as 161 other cases were pending as at December 31, 2018.
The commander identified inadequate operational vehicles as a major challenge militating against effective drug control operations in the State, stressing that stronger vehicles are required to penetrate forests where cannabis is cultivated. He however assured that when stakeholders concentrate efforts on drug control programmes, crimes like armed robbery-kidnapping, ritual killing and secret cult militancy will be drastically reduced in the State.
A total of 399 suspected drug traffickers were arrested by the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last year while over 45,743.19kg of various drugs mainly cannabis sativa commonly known as hemp or marijuana confiscated, the Commander, Mr Buba Wakawa has disclosed.
The anti-drug boss said that arrested included 271 males and 68 females while 45,697.14kg of cannabis, 45.75kg of tramadol, 0.170 grams of diazepam, 0.100 grams of butazol, cocaine 0.0196 of cocaine and heroin 0.0103 of heroin were confiscated by the agency.
According to Wakawa, cannabis has the largest share of the seized drugs, noting that over 32.0975552 hectares of cannabis plantation located across various local government areas of the state were identified and destroyed just as 12 vehicles and three motorcycles used for conveying illicit drugs were impounded from drug traffickers last year.
ALSO READ:Â One dead as container falls on two cars in Lagos
Wakawa said that 38 drug offenders including two women were convicted at the Federal High Court, Benin City even as 161 other cases were pending as at December 31, 2018.
The commander identified inadequate operational vehicles as a major challenge militating against effective drug control operations in the State, stressing that stronger vehicles are required to penetrate forests where cannabis is cultivated. He however assured that when stakeholders concentrate efforts on drug control programmes, crimes like armed robbery-kidnapping, ritual killing and secret cult militancy will be drastically reduced in the State.