184 drug dealers arrested in Kebbi in 2018 – NDLEA

The National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kebbi says it arrested 184 suspected drug dealers and seized 3,971.9 kg. of illicit drugs as well as psychotropic substances in 2018.

The state NDLEA Commander, Mr Suleiman Jadi, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Birnin Kebbi.

“The command arrested 184 suspected drug dealers, and three of the suspects are females,’’ he said.

Jadi said that the command seized 2,402.8kg. of cannabis sativa and 1,569.08kg. of psychotropic substances.

“We also seized 305.7kg. of Tramadol and discovered a hemp farm, measuring the size of a football field, in Fakai Local Government Area. We destroyed 2, 200kg. of fresh Indian hemp plants.

“The total volume of drugs seized in 2018 was 3,971.9kg,’’ he said.

Besides, Jadi said that the agency was able to secure the conviction of 26 drug offenders in 2018, adding that other cases were still pending at the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi.

The commander said the command also counselled 18 drug users or abusers, while taking in 27 drug addicts for rehabilitation.

“Out of this figure, 20 were successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated back into the society.

“Apart from the rehabilitation and counselling; the command also carried out public enlightenment and awareness campaigns in schools, marketplaces and motor parks, among others,’’ he said.

Jadi, however, noted that the agency was facing logistics challenges, adding that the command depended on only one functional operational vehicle for its operations.

He, therefore, solicited the assistance of stakeholders in the state by donating operational vehicles to the command.

He thanked the general public for providing useful information for the command, saying that the public support had largely facilitated the achievements of the command in 2018.