Johnkennedy Uzoma, Owerri
Authorities of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Imo State Command, says it has arrested 165 suspected drug traffickers and impounded 959.677kg of had drugs such as Cannabis Sativa, Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Tranadol, among others in the state between January 2020 till date.
NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr. Nse J. Inam disclosed this, on Thursday, to newsmen at the command headquarters, in Owerri.
He said of the 165 suspects arrested, 145 were males while 20 were female youths who are in the age brackets of between 17-35 years.
The NDLEA boss also raised the alarm over the increasing abuse of Methamphetamine aka (Mkpuru-miri) in the state by youths.
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Commander Inam further hinted that his command in their effort to respond to the problem of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the State have successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of 24 accused person’s in court with a lot of cases ongoing in the court.
According to him 97 drug users arrested during their raid operations have been counseled with 3 already rehabilitated while another 2 drug addicted persons are presently in their facilities for the same purpose.
On enlightenment, the Commander said that in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Command has carried out public enlightenment and sensitisation programmes in the state.
Inam said that the sensitisation programmes were held in across the communities, villages, Local Government Area Headquarters and in the tertiary institutions such as Ogwnama Autonomous Community in Ahiazu Mbaise, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede-Owerri, Community Secondary School Mbieri, Girls Secondary School Ifakala, among others.
He said that sensitisation programmes was still ongoing across the three senatorial districts of Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe.
Inam stated that the aim of the programmes is aimed at re-awakening the public consciousness and awareness on the dangers of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking while calling on all hands to be on deck to keep the society safe from the twin monsters.
He paid tribute to the Governor Hope Uzodimma for his support to the command while appreciating other sister agencies and the media for their numerious support and cooperation.
