Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) said 5, 147 drug offenders have been successfully prosecuted and convicted in the past two and half years.
He said this at a briefing to announce the flag off of activities to mark the 2023 UN Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking of Illicit Drugs on Tuesday.
Marwa, who was represented by the Secretary of the agency, Shedrack Haruna, said over 11,000 other cases are still pending in court while 23,725 drug users have been counselled and rehabilitated, many of them through brief interventions.
He said over the period 31, 675 including 35 barons, were arrested for drug-related offences.
According to him,
“In the past two and half years, we have strengthened our law enforcement efforts to cut down on the supply of drugs in society. In 29 months, we have arrested 31, 675 drug offenders, including 35 barons; successfully prosecuted and got convicted 5,147 of them, and over 11,000 other cases still pending in court, while 23,725 drug users had been counselled and rehabilitated, majority of them through brief interventions.
“At least 6.3 million kilograms of various illicit substances have been recovered in response to our efforts to sweep up drugs and shut down the distribution channels.
“We have destroyed 852.142 hectares of cannabis farms and dismantled three clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. I can assure you that even as we speak, NDLEA agents are busy with interdiction activities somewhere”.
