NDLEA seizes 115.226kg illicit drugs, arrests 149 suspects in Ebonyi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ebonyi State has announced the seizure of 115.226 kilogrammes of various illicit substances and the arrest of 149 suspects during the year’s third quarter.

The NDLEA Commander for Ebonyi State, Peter Ogar, disclosed this to journalists yesterday.

He said arrests and seizures were made at different locations across the state between July and September 2024.

Ogar explained: “The agency in Ebonyi also provided counselling to 82 individuals within the period, including 64 males and 18 females. We arrested 149 suspects, comprising 112 males and 37 females, aged between 26 and 72. The arrests included drug dealers, users, and traffickers.”

He outlined the substances seized during this period, which included 0.0023kg of crack cocaine, 55.492kg of Cannabis Sativa, 0.393kg of codeine syrup, 0.004kg of Tramadol tablets, 0.437kg of Tramadol capsules, 917 tablets of diazepam weighing 0.964kg and 47 ampoules weighing 0.226kg.

Other substances seized included 0.0054kg of methamphetamine, 75 tablets of bromazepam weighing 0.034kg, 476 tablets of lorazepam weighing 0.100kg, 56 litres of ‘monkey tail’ (an illicit alcoholic mixture), 42.2kg of the same substance, 24 tablets of raphynol weighing 0.009kg, and other psychotropic substances, bringing the total to 115.226kg.

“During the period under review, one person was convicted,” Ogar added. “We also carried out sensitisation campaigns across the state, targeting youth groups and community leaders, to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking.”

The Commander reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to tackling illicit drug trafficking, not just in Ebonyi but across Nigeria, emphasising the agency’s readiness to combat the growing drug problem in the country.