The Jigawa State Chapter of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 61.24 kilograms of various narcotics and psychotropic substances between January-June this year.
The state’s Commander of the NDLEA, Barr. Obi Josephine Ruth, stated at a press conference held at the commands headquarters, in Dutse.
The briefing was in commemoration of the United Nation International Day Against Drug Abuse where she emphasised the readiness of the command in making Jigawa state a drug free state.
“The drug war is more challenging now than ever. The difficulties of today have led many more people into drug dependency, hence our conviction to intensify efforts towards making arrests, seizure and counselling of victims for eventual reformations.”
Barr. Ruth expressed concern over how the level of drug abuse was on the increase across the state, however assured that with increased commitments among NDLEA officials and government support the menace could be drastically reduced to the barest level.
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“The NDLEA jigawa state is undaunted and will continue to work to sanitize the state through arrests, seizures, diligent prosecution and counseling.
“We now have a rehabilitation centre established by the state Drug Control Committee to enable us carry out residential counseling in addition to home based counseling,” she stated.
During the operations of the command from January to June this year, the command was able to arrest 186 illicit drug users that include 182 males and 4 females.
Other breakthrough of the Command include the conviction of 22 convicted persons and counselling of 105 males and 3 females totalling 108.
Other illicit drugs seized in large consignment’s by the command are carnabis sativa, ( Indian Hemp), Codeine, among other psychotropic substances such as Diazepam, Extol, Tramadol and Rohypnol as well as non conventional substances including rubber solution, suck and die and lizard drug.