NDLEA arrests 651 suspects in Jigawa, Kaduna, recovers illicit drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 383 suspects and recovered 1.380,705.7 tonnes of narcotics between January and December 2016 in Jigawa State.

The State Commander, Abdullahi Abdul, disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Dutse, the state capital.

Also, the Kaduna State Command of the agency said 269 suspected drug traffickers were arrested while 53 were convicted last year.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr. Samuel Azige disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

Azige noted that the number of those arrested was higher in 2016 compared with the 232 arrested in 2015.

Abdul said the command also convicted 84 drugs suspects to various jail terms within the period under review.

He added that some of the cases were still pending before a Federal High Court, Dutse.

The commandant further explained that N64,043, two vehicles, including one motorcycle, were forfeited to the Federal Government, being proceeds of drugs.

“The Jigawa command of the NDLEA achieved a lot in the drug war through arrests and seizures, prosecutions and counselling in 2016, despite the challenges.

“The agency also conducted seminars on drug education aimed at enlightening the masses on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.

“Drug-Free Clubs were also established in schools within the state,” he stated.

Azige added that 18,298.375 kilogrammes of illicit drugs were seized from suspects in Kaduna during the period, which indicates a decrease from the 23,169.596 kilogrammes in 2015.

In another development, the Adamawa Command of the agency disclosed that 870 blocks of substances suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered in a building in Damilu area of Jimeta.

The state commander Yakubu Kibo, stated this at a news conference in Yola yesterday.
Kibo said that the substances weighing 981 kilogrammes were seized following intelligence reports.

He said no arrest was made and the building had been sealed pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter.