The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Abia State Command said it arrested 65 suspects and about 82 kilograms of substances were seized between June and August this year.
The new State Commandant, Mr. Joseph Owoputi, disclosed this on Friday when he was who came on a familiarisation visit to the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, adding that seven convictions were obtained within the period under review, 12 are currently being prosecuted, while 38 individuals are undergoing both counselling and rehabilitation in the command’s facility.
He assured that he would consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor and solicited the assistance of the state government in providing them with operational vehicles for improved performance.
“I was reliably informed by my predecessor that you have been a dependable ally and Messiah to NDLEA. I commend your achievements and your support to the NDLEA,” he said, stating that the governor’s support has assisted the agency in its fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trade.
Responding, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti called for stringent legislation against drug dealers and drug offences as a way of curbing drug abuse in Nigeria.
The Governor further called for a crackdown on drug cartels to cut off the distribution of illicit substances, arguing that since over ninety per cent of crime is connected to drug abuse, upscaling the punishment would go a long way in discouraging youths from going into drugs.
The governor noted, “We just need to crack the drug cartel. So, if you crack the drug cartel, then the crime disappears.
“Unfortunately, the law is a bit lenient on the use of drugs. I didn’t know that until I was in one of the security council meetings. They said that whenever you apprehend somebody using drugs, you counsel and rehabilitate the person. That’s not enough punishment.
“So, we need to, maybe lobby, and get it passed at the National Assembly. So that the law can be tougher, because if you are not dealing with the source, you are just wasting time. So, I think we should do that because it’s destroying a lot of young people. Some of them are not able to remain in school. For those who are of school age.”
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