Ebonyi State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) has said that it arrested 247 suspect’s in the state in 2020.
The State Commander of the Agency,Mr Umar Adoro disclosed this to newsmen on Friday at the command’s office at Ntezi in Ishiellu Local Government Area of the state.
Adoro said the figure was recorded inspite of the Covid-19 restrictions nation-wide.
He said a total of 461.2 kilogrammes of illicit Drugs were seized from the suspects comprising 198 males and 49 females while 36 suspect’s consisting of 35 males and one female were convicted.
Adoro said unknown to many, the command offers counselling services to illicit drug users ranging from treatment to rehabilitation.
“We counseled a total of 107 suspects in 2020, treating, rehabilitation and re-integrating them back into the society.
” Most of those counseled were reported to the command by their parents or guardians and we offered assistance to them.”
The NDLEA Commander explained that not all the suspects are prosecuted as the Command marks out those who need counseling and rehabilitation from others.
He regretted the high number of female involved in the illegal drug usage and dealings describing the situation as alarming and should be a huge concern to relevant stakeholders and mothers in particular.
Adoro stated that over 70 percent of the Youths who participated in the EndSARS protest of 2020 were actively engaged in illicit drug intake and assured that the command would” continue soliciting the cooperation of relevant stakeholders to check the increasing rate of illicit drug usage and dealings in the society.”.
