NDLEA arrests 490 suspects, seizes 9,163.96kg of drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos on Thursday said it arrested 490 drug suspects and seized 9,163.96kg in 2013.

The agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Ofoyeju Mitchel, who made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the figure was higher than the 321 arrested in 2012.

Mitchel said that 51 women were arrested in 2013 compared to the 16 women arrested in 2012.

He said 79 people were convicted in 2013 and 67 in 2012, adding that 128 cases were pending in court in 2013 compared to the 56 in 2012.

Ofoyeju said the drug seizures in 2013 were mainly cannabis as against 2,451.23kg of narcotic comprising cocaine, heroin, cannabis, amphetamine and ephedrine in 2012.

“The seized drugs in 2013 included 9,047 kg of cannabis. 675 kg of psychotropic substances 78.15 kg of methamphetamine, 33.734 kg of heroin, 2.703 kg of cocaine and 1.701kg of other drugs.

“Similarly the seized drugs in 2012 included 6.706 kg of cocaine, 1.121 kg of heroin, 2,346.70 kg of cannabis, 9 kg of amphetamine and 87.7 kg of ephedrine,’’ he added.

He said that 320 drug addicts were successfully counselled, while 173 were counselled in 2012.

He pointed out that the command was confronted with the challenge of cannabis use among youths and illegal methamphetamine production laboratories.

Ofoyeju said that the large cannabis seizure made in 2013 and the illegal drug factories uncovered in residential areas within Lagos were as a result of the active participation of stakeholders in the drug control programme.

He, however, announced that the command carried out community mobilisation and enlightenment efforts in 2013 with the establishment of drug-free clubs in schools, anti-drug awareness campaigns at motor parks, churches and mosques