The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nasarawa State Command, has reported the arrest of approximately 150 suspected drug traffickers between July 2023 and June 2024.
According to The PUNCH, this announcement was made by the State Commander, Peter Onche-Odaudu, during the concluding ceremony of the week-long 2024 United Nations International Day Against Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Lafia on Wednesday.
Onche-Odaudu disclosed that the suspects included 144 men and six women, with 7,148.95 holograms of illegal drugs seized during the specified period.
The confiscated drugs comprised over seven tons, including 7,037.2kg of Indian hemp, 0.011kg of cocaine, 0.185kg of methamphetamine, and 111.53kg of various psychotropic substances.
“A very significant arrest and seizure is that of 4,037kg of Indian hemp in one fell swoop on Sunday, February 4, 2024. This remains the single highest seizure of drugs in the history of the drug war in Nasarawa State. The suspects arrested and the 40-footer truck seized are being prosecuted and forfeited respectively,” he stated.
The NDLEA commander also mentioned that during this period, 117 suspects were sentenced to various prison terms by the Federal High Court in Lafia.
Also, the War Against Drug Abuse campaign by the command educated 46,802 individuals – 27,033 males and 19,769 females – across schools, communities, workplaces, and motor parks in the state.
“As part of our rehabilitation programme, Eight male clients were taken into our facility, counselled and rehabilitated, 752 arrested suspects who were obvious drug users, were given brief counselling interventions and released to their families,” Onche-Odaudu added.
Highlighting the theme for the 2024 Drugs Day commemoration, ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention’, Onche-Odaudu emphasized its alignment with the UN’s goal to prioritize prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation over punishment and incarceration.
He credited the command’s success in the drug war to the support from the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, his wife, Silifat Sule, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Retired Brig.-Gen. Muhammed Buba Marwa, and other stakeholders in the state.
Onche-Odaudu also expressed his gratitude to the officers and men of the command for their dedication and courage in combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking, which had led to significant achievements in the state.
