218 drug suspects arrested in Imo, says NDLEA

National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Imo State Command said it arrested 218 drug suspects in the state since June 2021.

The Agency also said it impounded 1471.314 kilogrames of hard drugs in the state during the same period.

The state commander, Reuben Apeh, disclosed this at a press conference held in Owerri, yesterday to mark the 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drugs Trafficking.

Apeh, who further disclosed that out of the number of the attested, 171 were male while 47 were female, hinted that many of the arrested suspects were arraigned and convicted for drug-related offences at Courts.

He regretted that the use of the illicit substance has been greeted with gory stories of all kinds of evil, ranging from violence, cultism, armed robbery, rape among other vices and crimes.

He stressed that the menace has created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in the state.

According to him, “within the period covered, 51 suspects have been convicted while 146 cases were charged to court and the cases are still ongoing.”

He said, “the United Nations had designed 26th June of every year as an anti-drug day to create awareness of dangers of drug abuse in societies and Nigeria has not failed to be at the forefront of fighting the battle against drug abuse and it’s illicit trade.

“The drug situation in Imo State is worrisome giving the fact that even the women have joined the drug trade to make end to their financial crisis.”

“Also within the period under review, the activities of drug peddlers in Imo State have become so alarming and increasingly becoming sophisticated among the younger segments of the state population.

“Among the various exhibits ceased within the period under review include 0.10513kg of Cocaine, 0.2077kg of Heroin, 3.896kg of methamphetamine, 3.184kg of tramadol and 0.5278kg of rohypnol among others.”