BY DAHIRU SULEIMAN, DUTSE.
The Jigawacommand of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has seized 61.24 kilograms of various narcotics and psychotropic substances between January and June this year, the state Commander of the NDLEA, Obi Josephine Ruth stated at a press conference held at the commands premises in Dutse.
The briefing was in commemoration of the United Nation International Day Against Drug Abuse where she emphasized the readiness of the Command in making Jigawa State drug free.
“The drug war is more challenging now than ever. The difficulties of today have led many more people into drug dependency, hence our conviction to intensify efforts towards making arrests, seized, and counseled victims for reformations,” she said.
The commander expressed concern over how the level of drug abuse was on the increase, but assured with increased commitments among NDLEA officials and government support the menace could be reduced.
“The NDLEA jigawa State is undaunted and will continue to work to sanitize the state through arrests, seizures, diligent prosecution and counseling. We now have a rehabilitation centre established by the state Drug Control Committee to enable us carry out residential counseling in addition to home based counseling,” she said.
Between January and June this year, the command arrested 186 suspects – 182 males and 4 females.
Other breakthrough of the command included conviction of 22 persons while 105 males and three females were counseled.
Illicit drugs seized in large consignment by the command were cannabis sativa, ( Indian Hemp), Codeine, among other psychotropic substances such as Diazepam, Extol, Tramadol and Rohypnol as well as non-conventional substances including rubber solution, suck and die and lizard dung.