NDLA arrests 29 suspects, seizes 493.263kg illicit drugs in Rivers

…Joins NGO in sensitising Lagos students on drug abuse***

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Rivers State Command, arrested 29 suspects and seized 493.263kg of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, Cannabis Sativa and methamphetamine (aka Mkpurunmiri).

Mr Ahmed Mamuda, the Rivers State Commander, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement by Mr Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, the Assistant State Commander, Media and Advocacy in Port Harcourt.

Also read: NDLEA arrests female drug dealer with 78 bags of cannabis

Mamuda said the Command acted on credible intelligence by the officers of the command in the state who carried out stop and search operation along the East-West Road, Ahoada axis of the state from Oct.10 till 11, and intercepted a gold colour Toyota Sienna SUV with Reg No – Abuja YAB 70 BR conveying 20 bags of cannabis Sativa weighing 251.4kg, from Benin to Owerri.

Mamuda stated that the driver of the SUV, Mr Segun Ajayi 35 years, who was conveying the exhibit was arrested and taken to custody.

According to Mamuda, the Command made another seizure of 15 bags of cannabis Sativa weighing 161.4kg inside one ash-coloured Toyota Camry saloon car with Reg No ABUJA RBC 590 BQ with two male occupants who, on sighting our officers, abandoned their vehicle, took to flight and escaped into the nearby bush.

“All efforts to apprehend them proved abortive.

The vehicle was later found to be registered in the name of Egbo John Uche who is suspected to be the owner of the abandoned exhibit.

“While Segun Ajayi is already volunteering useful information, we are exploiting all available sources to track and bring Egbo John Uche to justice as soon as possible,” he said.

Mamuda explained that the command, in September, arrested 28 suspects comprising 20 males and 8 females with a total seizure of 81.255kg of illicit drugs which included Narcotic drugs such as cocaine, heroin, Cannabis Sativa and methamphetamine (aka Mkpurunmiri.)

Others are psychotropic substances such as tramadol, swinol, Exol-5, diazepam, Amphetamine, and talen.

Mamuda urged Rivers people to continue to supply actionable intelligence that would lead to the eradication of illicit drug business in the society.

In the same vein, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Keep it One Hundred Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Wednesday sensitised some secondary school students on the dangers of drug abuse.

The newsmen report that the sensitisation programme took place at Agidingbi Senior Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Juliana Anake-Ugwu, NDLEA Principal Staff Officer, Treatment and Rehabilitation, said that the programme was aimed at curbing drug abuse in schools.

Anake-Ugwu said the prevalence of drug addiction could be as a result of the immediate environment or family upbringing.

“Our environment and the family we come from determine a lot,” she said.

According to her, NDLEA is fighting the war against drug abuse from two perspectives of supply reduction, dealing with arrest and prosecution, as well as drug demand reduction.

“In Economics, they say the lower the demand, the lower the supply, so we are tackling it from this angle so that people can be aware.

NDLEA Principal Staff Officer, Treatment and Rehabilitation, Lagos State Command, Mrs Juliana Anake-ugwu, sensitising the students of Agidingbi Senior Secondary School on the war against drug abuse in Lagos.

“The way to curb illicit drugs is by sensitisation, letting them know, especially at this stage because early use of drugs could hinder the way the brain develops.

“If the brain does not develop properly, it will hinder someone’s productivity and output in life.

“So, we let them know at this young age that experimenting with illicit substance is a no,” she said.

Anake-Ugwu advised pupils and parents to seek professional help for any young child experimenting with illegal substances.

She added that the NDLEA has its counselling and rehabilitation centres across the state.

“When a child is being taken to any of our centres, we profile them. Also, there are other government facilities that take care of a child’s mental health, treatment and counselling,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, the Founder of the NGO, Mr Victor Enyeazu, said that the organisation would work more with the NDLEA to sensitise other schools across the state.