The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kaduna State Command reported that its operatives seized 1,045.93 kg of various illicit substances and detained 420 individuals in the third quarter of the year.
The NDLEA commander, Mr. Samaila Danmalam, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Kaduna.
Danmalam said, “The command had within the period under review arrested a total of 420 suspects, comprising 404 males and 16 females.
“The figure represents both drug dealers, drug users, and traffickers.”
The commander also revealed that the command has made seizures of various illicit substances.
He said, “The illicit substances included Cocaine, Cannabis Sativa, Rohypnol, Tramadol, Methamphetamine, and other psychotropic substances grossly weighing 1,045.93 kg.
“The command seized a total of 1,393 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and equally seized four locally made arms in the course of its numerous operations in the period being reported.
“The command equally secured the conviction of 30 drug offenders and charged a total of 54 suspects, while investigations on others are ongoing.”
Danmalam stated that under its non-kinetic strategy to tackle the drug scourge through drug demand reduction initiatives, the command conducted a variety of sensitisation and awareness programs.
“It counselled 50 drug users while it rehabilitated 50 drug-dependent persons, who successfully recovered and were reintegrated into mainstream society,” he stated.
He stated that the command would continue to battle illicit drug trafficking while also requesting timely and relevant intelligence to enable swift response and preventative steps.
Last month, NDLEA agents intercepted cocaine and prescription opioids disguised in women’s sanitary pads.