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| NDLEA Officers |
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it made seizures of illicit drugs estimated at N200 million in Cross River between January and October 2022.
Kupi Maulse, the State Commander of the NDLEA, revealed this in an interview he gave on Monday in Calabar.
According to Mr. Maulse, the drugs that were confiscated were worth N50 million and contained 77.9 grammes of cocaine, 104.9 grammes of heroin, 23.4 grammes of methamphetamine, 162.52 kg of cannabis sativa, and 216.12 kg of psychiatric substances.
He added that the command also demolished two farms totaling 15 hectares, worth N150 million, that were used to grow marijuana in the state's forest areas of Akamkpa and Odukpani.
The NDLEA commander further said that 159 persons were arrested within the same period.
Mr Maulse said that from the number of suspects arrested, the command had secured 21 convictions while six cases were currently under investigation.
“The remaining cases are awaiting final determination at the Federal High Court in Calabar,” he said.
The commander, who bemoaned the lack of operational vehicles, said that this had hindered the routine operation of its personnel in the state.
“The mode of operations of the drug dealers in the state include street drug peddling, operating drug joints at the river banks and using of the football field as smoking joints.
“They also retail and sell drugs inside family houses, especially in the older neighbourhoods.
“Hawking around night clubs and mobile dealers, who do delivery services to their customers on request through mobile phones, are also some of their methods.”
Mr Maulse further said that the lack of rehabilitation centres and facilities also hinders the command’s drug demand reduction activities.
He said that no fewer than 50 persons were currently undergoing counselling at the command’s Drug Demand Reduction unit (DDR).
(NAN)