The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

  • NDLEA secures conviction of 240 illicit drug users in Kano

    NDLEA secures conviction of 240 illicit drug users in Kano

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has secured the conviction of 240 suspected drug users in Kano State in the last six months.

    Mr Hamza Umar, the Commandant of the agency told newsmen in Kano on Tuesday in commemoration of UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

    He said the UN day, with the theme “Listen First’’, was marked globally on June 29.

    According to him, 768 suspects were arrested out of which 505 of them were counselled and 68 rehabilitated during the period.

    Umar explained that the 240 drug users were convicted and sentenced to various jail terms, while over 39.224 kilograms of different hard drugs including 6451.976 kilograms of cannabis were also seized.

    He added that among the illicit drugs seized were 327.15 kilograms of psychotropic substances, 358.3 kilograms of cocaine and 31.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.

    According to him, measures taken by the command have led to drastic decrease in terms of supply and consumption of hard drugs in the state.

    “The agency in Kano had commissioned a 16 man committee to steer and coordinate all plans and strategies aimed at curtailing the menace.

    “It is my belief that in preventing and controlling drug abuse, the community must be mobilised to be part of the war.

    “The major factors leading to drug abuse are in our community, the abusers are in our community, therefore, the full support and involvement of the various groups in the community is necessary,” the commandant said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was supported the Kano State Government, Society for Family Health and Taimako Support Group.

  • NDLEA arrests 204 drug suspects, seizes 1,430.51kg illicit drugs in Adamawa

    NDLEA arrests 204 drug suspects, seizes 1,430.51kg illicit drugs in Adamawa

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it arrested 204 drug suspects and seized 1,430.51kg illicit drugs in Adamawa between January and June.

    Mr Yakubu Kibo, the NDLEA Commandant in the state, who confirmed the arrest and seizure at a news conference on Friday, also said that 50 suspects were convicted during the period.

    Kibo said that during period, the command “Drug Demand Reduction Unit’’ counseled and rehabilitated a significant number of people who were involved in the use of illicit drugs.

    “From January to June 2017, the command arrested 204 drug suspects, secure 50 convictions and seized illicit drugs weighing 1,430.51 kilogrammes.

    “Also in the months under review, 28 persons with drug related cases were counseled and rehabilitated,’’ Kibo said.

    He said that currently, seven drug addicts were undergoing similar counseling and rehabilitation in the command.

    The commandant said that the seized drugs are: cannabis sativa, cocaine, tramafol and diazepam tablets, pentazocin injections, cough syrup with codeine and rahypnol tablets.

    He commended the cordial working relationship between the agency relevant agencies and the Adamawa Government.

    Kibo, however, appealed for more support from state government in the areas of grassroots anti-drug abuse enlightenment, as well as provision of operational vehicles for effective service delivery.

  • Hajj: Ilorin airport maps out strategy to checkmate drug traffickers

    Hajj: Ilorin airport maps out strategy to checkmate drug traffickers

    The management of llorin International Airport on Tuesday said it had mapped out strategy to detect suspected drug traffickers that would travel to Saudi Arabia for the 2017 Hajj.

    Alhaji Ibrahim AbdulAzeez, the Airport Manager, made this known in llorin in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that the management of the airport had put necessary machinery in place to detect and stop any intending pilgrims indulging in drug trafficking or any negative tendencies capable of giving the country bad image.

    AbdulAzeeez said that the airport had inaugurated 2017 Hajj Committee, which would ensure perfect arrangement for the airlifting and return of all the intending pilgrims.

    He however warned intending pilgrims from the llorin zone with criminal intention to do a rethink by not travelling to the holy land through llorin International Airport.

    He said that members of the committee  were drawn from Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration and Civil Defence.

    Others members are the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Port Health, NAFDAC, and some the airliners.

    It will be recalled that three pilgrims, who traveled through the airport for the 2016 Hajj were arrested in Saudi Arabia over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

  • 2017 Hajj: Kwara Pilgrims Board warns drug traffickers

    2017 Hajj: Kwara Pilgrims Board warns drug traffickers

    The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, says it is collaborating with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to ensure that no suspected drug trafficker is found among the 2017 intending pilgrims.

    Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh, the Executive Secretary of the board disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in llorin.

    The secretary, who was reacting to the arrest of three pilgrims from Kwara in Saudi Arabia during 2016 pilgrimage, said the incident was regrettable and would not happen again in the history of the board.

    He said the NDLEA had assured the board of availability of modern scanning machines to detect suspected drug peddlers who might attempt to travel to the Holy Land from the state.

    According to him, any drug baron planning to travel with through the board should have a rethink, as adequate arrangement has been put in place to fish them out.

    Tunde-Jimoh advised intending pilgrims not to travel with Kola nuts or other substances outlawed by Saudi Arabia.

    He said the board had made arrangements to conduct series of enlightenment programmes to acquaint them with Hajj rites.

    According to him, the board has already secured befitting accommodation for the comfort of 2017 pilgrims in Makkah ,Madinah.

    Tunde-Jimoh warned the intending pilgrims from paying the balance of their Hajj fare through agents, saying payment should be made to only the banks designated by the board.

    NAN reports that a total of 2,168 pilgrims and 20 officials are expected to perform the 2017 Hajj from Kwara.

     

  • NDLEA secures two convictions, arrests 15 suspects for drugs related offences in Edo

    NDLEA secures two convictions, arrests 15 suspects for drugs related offences in Edo

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command, said it had secured two convictions of illicit drug traffickers and arrested 15 suspects in April.

    The State Commandant of the Agency, Mr Buba Wakawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin that the suspects included 14 males and a female.

    Wakawa also said that the command had seized a total of 1, 027 kilogrammes of
    substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

    “The substances comprise 1, 018.1 kilogrammes of suspected Cannabis Sativa; 0.520 kilogrammes of suspected Tramadol and 0.070 kilogrammes of suspected Diazepam.

    “One farm land estimated to yield about 1,647.4 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be cannabis sativa was destroyed within the period under review.

    “One vehicle was seized in connection with the crime while 12 suspects were counseled,’’ he said.

    The commandant appealed to the state government to assist the command with logistics such as operational vehicles and a warehouse to store exhibits.

    He reiterated the commitment of the command to rid the state of illicit drugs and traffickers.

     

  • NDLEA arrests two drug barons in Cross River

    NDLEA arrests two drug barons in Cross River

    The Cross River State Command of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has arrested two drug barons along Yahe—Ikom Trans International Highway for possessing 76.050 kilograms of Methamphetamine and 100.1 kilogramme of Ephedrine worth N2.5 billion.

    The State Commander, Mrs Anthonia Edeh, told reporters in Calabar Monday that the two suspects, Mr Azuka Emmanuel (55) and Ndubuisi Okafor (23) were intercepted in a commercial bus with the drugs.

    According to her, NDLEA operatives positioned for stop and search recovered the concealed synthetic drugs in Golden Morn cereal packs while the Ephedrine was found inside Semovita packs and five industrial fillers.

    She reiterated the commitment of the command to rid the state of illicit drugs trade and consumption, and commended officers of the command.

    She solicited the cooperation of members of the public for intelligence in order to fight the scourge of drug dealers.

    Edeh also appealed to the public to be mindful of Methamphetamine, which she described as harmful.

    The commander further appealed to the state government to assist it in the area of logistics to enable it traverse all nooks and crannies of the state.

    She said that suspects would be charged to the Federal High Court as soon as investigations were concluded.