The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 48 illicit drug dealers and impounded 106. 86 kilogrammes of hard drugs in the last three months.
Similarly, the agency arrested 100 persons in connection with the consumption of illicit drugs within two months, out of which 16 had been tried and convicted while 20 of the suspects were undergoing treatment and counselling in its rehabilitation facilities.
The Commander of the NDLEA in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Dennis Obiefule, who gave the information in an exclusive interview with Leadership Weekend, raised the alarm over the abuse of hard drugs in the FCT and its environs.
Obiefule warned that the illicit drugs, if not checked, had the potential to destroy the consumers and ruin their future.
The commander said the agency was aware of drug spots in the city and was trailing the dealers with a view to nipping their activities in the bud but was hampered by lack of personnel and operational vehicles.
He listed the most widely abused drugs to include Cannabis Sativa popularly known as Marijuana, cocaine and psychotropic substances.
“We are aware of the drug black spots. But they are always on the move as we trail them. We usually carry out raids but once we leave the scene, they will converge again. We don’t have the manpower to keep 24 hours surveillance,” the NDLEA officer lamented.
The Commander however urged Nigerians to keep faith with the agency as it was set to win the war despite resistance from the barons.
Giving a breakdown of arrests and seizure under the period, Obiefule said, “I assumed duties here in February and in the same month we made 17 arrests, 22 in March and nine in the first week of April.
“In terms of seized drugs, we hauled 54.1 kg of Cannabis Sativa and 2.9 kg of Cocaine in February and 47.71 kg of Cannabis, 1.1 kg of Cocaine and 1.05 kg of Psychotropic substance in March,” he said.