‘NDLEA arrested 265 drug traffickers in Kaduna last year’

Posted by admin Kaduna, NDLEA (Anti-Drug Agency), State News Thursday, January 20th, 2011

TO curtail the trafficking in hard drugs in the country, the Kaduna State National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested about 265 drug suspects last year while 3.4 tonnes of illicit hard drugs were seized from the suspects, the officials said yesterday.

A breakdown of the seized substances shows that 3.385 tonnes of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), 8.5 grams of cocaine and 15.435 kilograms of other psychotropic substances were confiscated by the agency’s Kaduna Command from the arrested suspects.

Of the 265 suspects, 29 were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms while 46 drug addicts and users respectively were counseled, rehabilitated and discharged within the period. The agency added that 15 other drug addicts are currently undergoing rehabilitation in its facilities.

Also, four different types of vehicles used to convey the seized drugs were also impounded by the agency and forfeited to the Federal Government.

The state NDLEA Commander, Mr. Ezekiel Epeso Ngale, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

Ngale added: “During the year under review, various black spots noted for the consumption and sale of illicit drugs were raided. The command has put drug barons at the notorious “Kaduna Columbia” and “Gidan Fata” in Zaria out of business.

“The command remains steadfast in its fight against the scourge of drugs and will ensure that Kaduna State will not remain conducive for drug dealers”.

Commending Governor Patrick Yakowa and the Emir of Zauzzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, for “their untiring support and commitment to a drug-free Kaduna State”, the NDLEA boss appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the agency by providing the command some “operation vehicles”.

Ngale also urged members of the public “to partner with us to rid Kaduna State of the menace of illicit drugs”, while welcoming “useful information that will lead to the arrest of these nefarious elements in our midst”.

-Guardian

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