Emeka Ibemere
Efforts by
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to eradicate illicit drugs
from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja are yielding good results with
the seizure of 4,832.74kg of various drugs and 102 bottles of cough syrup with
codeine content. The bottles of cough syrup were found in an abandoned defunct
NITEL box at Wuse Zone 4 during raid operation.
The seized
drugs which include Cannabis 4,787.35kg, psychotropic substances 44.86kg,
cocaine 428 grammes and methamphetamine 103 grammes were intercepted between
January and October 2014. Suspected drug traffickers arrested within the period
are 309 consisting of 12 females and 297 males.
The NDLEA
equally won the conviction of 101 accused persons in ten months while other
cases are still pending. Items forfeited from those convicted include 22
vehicles and 14 motorcycles. Counseling and rehabilitation services were also
provided for 79 persons with drug abuse problem.
NDLEA
Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade said that those convicted by the law
courts include 21 year old Abubakar Sadiq and Abdullahi Haruna, 22 year old
both from Gwoza, Borno State. They were sentenced to six years imprisonment
each for dealing in 0.8 grammes of cocaine and 1.6 grammes of cocaine
respectively. Olaniyi Oluata, 32 year old from Owo, Ondo State was sentenced to
six years for dealing in 3.2 grammes of cocaine while Oluwagbemiga David from
Otta, Ogun State got six years for trafficking 105kg of cannabis.
According to
Giade, “no stone shall be left unturned in the quest for a drug-free society.
Efforts are on-going to conduct more raids on criminal hideouts and dislodge
drug traffickers within the FCT and other parts of the country”.
The FCT
commander of the NDLEA, Mr. Obiefule Dennis Chidi said that those rehabilitated
are mainly youths who abuse cannabis, cough syrup with codeine and other drugs.
“Let me call on parents to take advantage of our free counseling and
rehabilitation programme. In the past ten months the FCT command successfully
rehabilitated 79 persons mostly youths who have been re-united with their
families” Obiefule stated.
He urged
parents to be vigilant and seek timely help for their children and wards adding
that some youths pour the cough syrups inside beverage containers to avoid
suspicion.
Ofoyeju
Mitchell
Head, Public
Affairs
08034088136
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