NDLEA arrests 36 suspects for alleged illicit drug trafficking in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo Command, said on Wednesday that it arrested no fewer than 36 suspects across the state for alleged illicit drug trafficking in January.

Mr Buba Wakawa, the State Commander of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the figure comprised 31 males and five females.

He also said that between Jan. 1 and 31 a total of 1, 350.811 kilogrammes of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa/psychotropic substances were seized by the command.

The commander said that the 636.136 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis sativa were seized from suspects, while 286.108 kilogrammes of the suspected substances seized were abandoned.

“The command also seized 289.522 kilogrammes of suspected psychotropic substances, as well as 0.044 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be cocaine with suspects,“he said.

Wakawa said that 0.005 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine was also seized as abandoned, while 0.018 kilogrammes of the suspected heroin was seized from the suspects.

“We also seized 0.009 kilogrammes of suspected methamphetamine substance as abandoned, and 5.566 kilogrammes of cookies suspected to be made with cannabis”, he said.

He said that 0. 883 kilogrammes suspected to be cannabis chocolate chips and 999 bottles of suspected codeine-based syrup weighing 134.865 kilogrammes were seized within the period under review.

Others, according to him, include 4,000 Amp of Pentazocine injections weighing 16. 64 kilogrammes, and six vehicles used for the crime were also seized.

The commander said that the command secured two convictions within the period under review, while 29 cases were pending at the Federal High Court, Benin.

He said that the command would not rest on its oars until the state was totally rid of illicit drug trafficking and peddling.