The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Sunday, disclosed that a total of 116 suspects were arrested for illegal drug peddling between January and November 2012.
The State Commander, Suleiman Jadi, speaking in Ibadan said the drugs, weighing 5, 697.9 kg, comprised mainly cannabis sativa, and cocaine.
“We were able to convict 59 persons ranging from three months to two years jail terms. Out of these 59, three were females.”
“We also counselled 32 of them that were addicts, of which three have been fully rehabilitated and reunited with their families,’’ he said.
He added that street drug peddlers, are the most difficult to arrest as they usually stave off attention by concealing their wares in pockets of their “combatant shorts”.
The Commander lauded the present administration’s intolerance of hard drugs, stressing that “The recent demolition of illegal market shanties across the metropolis, even in motor-parks, by the Oyo state government is highly welcome.”
“It has helped drastically to reduce crime rate. Drug users and other criminals are just like lice that get attracted to unkempt hair.”
“By removing these structures, which serve as hideout attractions, we have noticed that the criminal network of peddlers had also been stemmed and disappearing accordingly.’’
Jadi thanked the state government for its public sensitization campaign and provision of logistics. He further urged the public to assist the agency with vital information that could lead to the arrests of culprits.
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