The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that 677 drug traffickers were jailed and a total of 3,359 were arrested were arrested for drug-related offences within the first three months of 2022.
This was as the anti-narcotic agency also revealed that 65,915.891 kilograms of assorted drugs were seized with the same period.
The agency made the revelations in a press release by the Head, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Mr Femi Babafemi.
According to him, no fewer than 2,223 drug users were also counselled through brief interventions and rehabilitated in NDLEA facilities across the country in the first quarter of the year.
The figures, Babafemi stated, represented a fair balance between the agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
NDLEA stated that Lagos has the highest figure of drug seizures with 22,192.62 kilograms of illicit substances recovered from parts of the state.
It said Lagos was followed by the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Command, Ikeja, also in Lagos, with 8,979.869kg of drugs seized between January and March.
According to the release, Kano and Kaduna states led the pack in the arrests of offenders with 194 arrests each within the same period.
“While a total of 257 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed in forests across Ondo State, 14.869 hectares suffered same fate in Edo State and an hectare destroyed in Bayelsa State within the same period.
“A further breakdown of the drugs seized within the first quarter of the year shows cannabis leading the table in January with 8,205.75kg; followed by Codeine -414.281kg; Diazepam -192.459kg; Tramadol -135.067kg; Rophynol -43.062kg and Cocaine -24.32kg.
“In February, cannabis also topped the list of seizures with 20,538.79kg; Codeine -1,848.052kg; Tramadol -540.354kg; Diazepam -137.041kg; Rophynol -80.261kg; Cocaine -15.727kg; Methamphetamine 6.207kg and Heroin 4.006kg.
“Cannabis also topped the list of seizures in March with 21,583.81kg; followed by Tramadol -8,965.319kg; Codeine -417.207kg; Diazepam -57.755kg; Cocaine -45.082kg; Methamphetamine -7.527kg; Rophynol -6.34kg and Heroin -1.497kg,” the release added.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) appreciated the commitment of officers and men of the agency for a commendable performance in the first quarter of the year.
He urged them not to rest on their oars and assured them that every outstanding performance would always attract commensurate commendation and/or reward.
