The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Bayelsa State Command, in its effort to sanitize the nation of hard drugs, on Monday, said it has apprehended 70 persons in relation to drug related offences since January this year.
This was disclosed in a news conference in Yenogoa, the Bayelsa State capital by Mrs Josephine Obi, the State Commandant of NDLEA.
She noted that the anti-narcotic agency also seized 97.75 kg of various hard drugs from January till date.
According to the commandant, the figure indicates that 55.6 grammes of Cocaine, 4.3 grammes of Heroine, 97.23 kilogrammes of Cannabis and 1.46 kilogrammes of psychotropic substances were seized.
The agency further stated that in May, it arrested the highest number of drug suspects, 23 males and one female, while in March, the number of arrests dropped to three male and one female.
She observed that the conundrum of drug abuse and illicit trafficking was the bane of our society, adding that the arrests were made possible by regular surveillance and raids on illegal drug dealers across the state.
Obi stressed that the agency also explored the instrumentality of advocacy and public enlightenment to expose the danger of drug abuse to the public.
“We have also carried out eight lectures in various schools, ministries and town halls.
“Forty four persons were referred for counseling and have completed the three months counseling process.
“Four persons have been referred for rehabilitation outside the state while two persons are on the waiting list awaiting availability of bed space in the rehabilitation centre,’’ she averred.
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