The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of the Akwa Ibom State Command has said it convicted 61 of 300 arrested suspects between July 2023 and May 2024.
News About Nigeria reports that Obot Bassey, the state commander of NDLEA, disclosed this on Friday in Uyo.
She also said the agency seized 190.419 kg of hard drugs within the one year.
Addressing stakeholders ahead of June 26 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the State NDLEA boss further revealed that the Command treated and rehabilitated 24 male drug-dependent persons and carried out drug abuse prevention education at 82 locations across the state.
She said, “From July 2023 to May 2024, the State Command of NDLEA recorded a total arrest of 300 suspects, made up of 249 males and 51 females, and seized drugs weighing 190.419 kg.
“Drugs negatively impact people’s health and their well-being in society. Deadly drugs such as fentanyl are permeating the illicit drug markets and causing havoc and an even greater number of deaths.
“Illicit drug business is breaking formidable bounds, feeding crimes and violence in our communities and the nation.”
On preventive measures against the abuse of alcohol, Obot urged the government to take further steps to increase the price of the commodity, which will lead to the reduction of the consumption of alcohol.
She called on the government, philanthropists, individuals, and institutions to invest massively in drug use prevention measures.
This year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed, ‘The Evidence Is Clear: Invest In Prevention’ will feature an awareness campaign on the dangers of drugs through an anti-drug walk across the state.
