FCT Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seized 2,265,677 kilograms of various drugs in the capital territory between January and March 2023. Kabir Tsakuwa, the FCT commander of the Agency, said in an interview with the News Agency Nigeria in Abuja on Monday. Mr Tsakuwa said NDLEA officials arrested 123 drug suspects in the city during this period.
The drugs seized according to him, include cannabis sativa, cocaine and psychoactive drugs.
“The Command arrested 123 suspects for illicit drugs comprising 116 males and seven females, respectively.
“Total drug seized was 2,265.677 kilograms of different drugs. The Command also convicted 54 and we have 300 pending cases in court.
“However, 69 of such pending cases were from the 1st quarter and 231 from the previous year,” he said.
Tsakuwa said the command had admitted 20 drug users for counselling and rehabilitation in the same period. He further stated that 13 had been discharged. However, 142 were out-patient counselling with 42 referred from the investigation unit for counselling.
The NDLEA commander said that the command was making efforts to check drug issues in FCT. Furthermore, the agency will continually dislodge black spots through raid operations.
He said that the command would also collaborate with other sister agencies like the Military, Nigeria Police, NSCDC, FRSC and DSS through intelligence sharing and joint operations.
According to him, more collaboration with the media will be used to create awareness. This will also hopefully prevent drug abuse/education programmes would be looked into.
He said:-
“We (NDLEA) will also continue to partner with other stakeholders, NGOs, traditional rulers, religious leaders and opinion leaders, among others, using the War Against Drug Abuse platform.
“There will be plans for more sensitisation programmes targeted at more Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions.
“We will also carry out sensitisation at workplaces such as hospitals and some private/corporate organisations, Ministries and Parastatals.
“Also, sensitisation for farmers, market women, hoteliers, and motor parks, among others will be considered.
“This will be as part of measures to reduce to the barest minimum illicit drug abuse and trafficking in the territory,” he said.
cc: Punch Ng
