NDLEA secures conviction of 17 drug dealers in Sokoto

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Command in Sokoto state says it has secured a conviction for 17 out of the 40 suspected drug dealers arrested from January till date in the state.

Malam Misbahu Idris, the state’s Commandant of the agency, disclosed this at the 2019 International Day Against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking tagged “Health for Justice, Justice for Health” in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Idris said 835.339 kg of illicit drugs were also seized within the period.

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“The command seized a total of 797.500kg of Cannabis Sativa or Marijuana, 690.644kg of psychotropic substances, 34.593kg of Tramadol, 15.858kg of Cocaine and 1.5gm of cough syrup,” he said.

He said the highest arrests were made during festivities especially Sallah celebration.

Idris added that all the convictions were secured from Federal High Court Sokoto, adding that one of the convicts got eight years imprisonment.

According to him, most suspects arrested are between the ages of 15 and 27.

He said that 22 drug addicts were also counselled and rehabilitated during the period.

He, however, warned residents of the state especially politicians against supporting the consumption of illicit drugs which he described as a serious setback to societal development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that lectures were delivered by Mrs Rasheeda Muhammad and other experts on legal and health perspective of drugs abuse.

Participants at the event included students, drug clubs, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Groups among others.