NDLEA

A total of two hundred and thirty-five suspected drug offenders were arrested and three hundred and thirty-four point zero-six kilogrammes of drugs were seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Akwa Ibom state Command in 2017.

Command’s Public Relations Officer, Joy Agumuo, who stated this in an interview, said of the persons arrested, one hundred and ninety-one were males while forty-four were females.

Agumuo who is a Deputy Superintendent of Narcotics said there was a reduction in the number of suspects arrested and quantity of drug seized, compared to the 2016 figures.

She said during the period under review, ten of the suspects were convicted and serving various jail terms, adding that the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the agency had counseled some addicts, who had later been rehabilitated and reunited with their families.

According to her, some of the seizures made were cocaine, heroin, Indian hemp, diazepam, tramadol and psychotropic substances, regretting the high prevalence of Indian hemp and combined substance users in Uyo, the state capital.