The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ogun State, on Thursday, confirmed the arrest of 181 suspected drug dealers and the recovery of three pistols in the last five months in the state.
The state Commander of the NDLEA, Ibiba Odili, made the statement during a press briefing held in commemoration of the 2023 United Nations International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking with the theme: ‘People First: Stop Stigma, and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention’.
Odili said the agency took the fight to the doorsteps of drug traffickers through its operation that led to the arrest of some suspects, and the recovery of weapons and seizures of hard drugs.
She said,
“The command has arrested 181 suspects who comprise 147 male suspects and 34 female suspects from February till date. The command also recovered three locally-made pistols during operations in different parts of the state and we have handed them over to the police.
“On reduction of supply of drugs, we have seized 3,14151 tonnes, 9.4259kgs psychotropic substance, 29.8g of cocaine, 1,446.5 litres of skuches, codeine 7.65 litres and 1.8906kgs of methamphetamine within the period under review”.
On the prosecution of the arrested suspects, Odili noted that the command charged 60 cases and secured 33 convictions which comprise six females and 27 males.
The commander added that as part of efforts to sensitize the public against drug abuse, the command took sensitization to primary, secondary and tertiary schools as well as faith-based organizations among others.
She said,
“126 persons have been counselled while five victims have been referred to various specialist hospitals.”