In a determined bid to tackle the rising cases of drug abuse in Edo State, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has nabbed 65 suspected drug dealers.
The Edo State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Buba Wakawa who disclosed this in Benin yesterday said that the arrests and seizures of 4,5482.57 kilograms of the illicit drugs were recorded between July and September this year.
Wakawa listed those arrested to include 39 males and 26 females, adding that cannabis accounted for the bulk of the seizures with 4,561. 57kg while the figure for psychotropic substances stood 1.02kg.
The monthly breakdown is as follows, July 28 arrests with 442.61kg of drugs, August 11 arrests with 452.36kg of drugs while September is 26 arrests with 3,687.60kg.
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He said that within the period under review the agency discovered and destroyed 11 farms measuring 5.191335 hectares. The farms are estimated to yield 1,7041.80kg of cannabis.
Age distribution of arrested suspects are as follows, 15 to 24 years 18, 25 to 34 years 16, 35 to 44 years 16, 45 to 54 years 10, 55 to 65 years 4 while 65 years and above is 1. Most of the suspects are from Edo and Delta States. 35 of them representing 53.85 percent are from Edo State while 13 of them representing 20 percent are from Delta State. A total of twenty-four (24) drug dependent persons were successfully counseled by the command and reunited with their families.
Wakawa expressed the determination of the agency to reduce the incidents of drug production, trafficking and abuse in the state.
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