Drug abuse: NDLEA seizes illicit drugs, arrests 315 suspects

The Osun State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that a total of a total of three hundred and fifteen suspects have been arrested for drug related offences.

The Osun NDLEA stated that the suspects comprised of two hundred and seventy nine males and thirty-six females while the illicit drugs seized weighed 4,776.38644kg.

The breakdown of the drug seizure, the agency disclosed in a statement by the NDLEA Osun State Commander, Nnadi W. Chidi include the following: "Cannabis sativa 4,735.033kg, Diazepam 7.909kg, Tramadol 4.896kg, Methamphetamine - 0.40956grms, Rophynol 0.413grms, Benazine160grms,.Skushies 12.713kg, Molly 0.011grms, Codeine 1.8kg, Cocaine 47grms with a total of 4,776.38644kg."

This revelation was made by the Osun NDLEA Commander, Nnadi Chidi on the sidelines of the International Day Against Drug Abuse.

With the theme for the year 2023 as: “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention”, the day is marked annually on the 26 of June with a view to strengthen action and cooperation in actualising a world free of drug abuse.

Chidi said, "This year’s theme focuses on the need to be unbiased and not judgemental about drug users and dependent individuals so as to hasten their recovery and attain the goal of a drug free society.

"The society is thus charged to eschew stigmatization of drug users, discriminating against them discourages users from seeking help and making recovery difficult and a burden to the individual, family and society at large.

"Amid global strategy to curtail the menace of drug abuse, cases have remained on a rise in recent years. Consequences of drugs are fast becoming more threatening than anticipated especially among young people in Osun State.

"The abuse of drugs and other unconventional substance of abuse has become significant threat to public health, security and economic development.

"Within the last commemoration of June 26 till date, Osun State Command took a giant leap in curtailing the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state."

He revealed that out of the three hundred and fifteen suspects arrested, seventy five were briefly counselled and reintegrated back to their families while seventy suspects were successfully prosecuted and convicted.

"It is also worthy of note that within the period of review, 3.3 hectares of cannabis farm was destroyed at Owena Area, Oriade LGA of Osun State.

"Osun State Command also recorded remarkable feat in the drug demand suppression advocacy, a.k.a (WADA – War Against Drug Abuse)."




FI