By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse – The Jigawa Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it arrested 383 suspects and recovered 1.380,705.7 tons of narcotics between January and December 2016.
The NDLEA State Commander, Mr Abdullahi Abdul, in a statement issued on Thursday in Dutse said that the cammnad convicted 84 drugs suspect to varios jail terms within the period under review.
He said that some of the cases were still pending before a Federal High Court in Dutse.
The commandant said that the sum of N64,043, two vehicles and one motorcycle, were fortified to the Federal Government, being proceeds of illicit drug deals.
“The Jigawa command of the NDLEA within the year 2016, despite challenges faced has achieved a lot in its drug war viz-a-viz arrest and seizure, prosecution and counseling.
“The command arrested 382 suspects fro January to December 2016, while a total seizure quantity of 1.380.705.7 ton of various types of illicit drugs was made within the period.
“The command also convicted 84 drug suspects to various jail terms, while other cases are still pending before the Federal High Court Dutse,’’ Abdul said.
According to him, the agency had also conducted Drug Education activities in the state, aimed at educating students and individuals on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.
“This is in view of the emphasis on Drug Demand Reduction aimed at creating public awareness, rehabilitation of users as well as enhancing activities of NGOs’ involvement in fighting drug menace.
“Drug Free Clubs were also established in various schools within the state,’’ he said.
Abdul, however, called on the public to always give the command credible information that would assist in its efforts in tackling the menace of abuse of illicit drugs.
“The abuse of psychotropic substance and cough syrup is a worrisome development which the command is grappling with.
“Hence the need for all, including the traditional rulers, religious groups and CBOs to join hands in fighting the menace throughout the state,’’ he said.
