National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Jigawa Command, arrested 677 suspected drug dealers and recovered 2,260 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs between January 2016 and July 2017.
The state commander of the agency, Josephine Obi, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Jigawa in her address to mark the 2017 United Nations’ Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
She said that from January to December 2016, 382 suspects were arrested and 1,380.71 kilograms of cannabis and other psychotropic substances were seized.
She added that the agency secured the conviction of 84 suspects.
The commander said that N64, 043 million, a lorry, bus and motorcycle recovered from the suspects were forfeited to the Federal Government during the period under review.
She said that from January 2017 to date, the agency arrested 295 suspects and seized 878.91 kilograms of assorted drugs.
She added that within the period, 68 suspects were convicted.
“Of note also is that during special operations to commemorate World Drug-Free Day in July, our command arrested 24 suspects with various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
“This included a suspect who was arrested on July 9 with 69 compressed packages of cannabis sativa weighing 64.75 kilograms and valued at over half a million naira,” Obi said.
Obi listed lack of rehabilitation centre as the major constraint militating against the operations of the command in the state.
She said that families with children in need of rehabilitation were being referred to neighbouring states.
She appealed to well meaning individuals and organizations in the state to assist the command with financial and material support. (NAN)
MNB/AEA