NDLEA Rolls Out 3rd Quarter Achievements In Lagos

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, under the leadership of Barr. Ralph Igwenagu, has rolled out the achievements of the Command for the third quarter of this year (July – September, 2020).

According to a statement by Mr. Musa, PRO of the Lagos State Command, during the third quarter, 228 drug offenders comprising of 204 males and 24 females were arrested from various locations across Lagos State. Out of this number, 145 were found to be drug dealers and have been charged to Court for prosecution while the remaining 83, who were found to be users were counseled and released.

The Lagos State Command also seized 5,743.265 Kilogrammes (over 5 tonnes) of various illicit drugs from drug dealers and joints within Lagos.

A breakdown of the illicit drugs are as follows: Cannabis Sativa 5, 682.973 Kilogrammes, Cocaine 0.848 Kilogrammes, Heroin 0.101 Kilogrammes, Tramadol 47.869 Kilogrammes (73, 396 tablets), Diazepam 7.645 Kilogrammes (16, 217 tablets), Exol-5 2.05 Kilogrammes (6, 255 tablets), Methamphetamine 0.072 Kilogrammes, Rohypnol 1.707 Kilogrammes (2, 588 tablets), Codeine-based cough syrup 8.2 Litres (82 bottles), making a total of 5, 743.265 Kilogrammes of illicit drugs seized within the period under review.

During the period, the Command also secured the conviction of seventeen (17) drug offenders at the Federal High Court, Lagos, comprising of sixteen (16) males and one (1) female with various degrees of jail terms.

Within the same period under review, the Command carried out counselling sessions for a total of eighty three (83) drug users comprising of seventy nine (79) males and four (4) females successfully and reunited them with their families.

The Command, as part of its mandate, also embarked on Advocacy visits to various stakeholders as well as the media to sensitize them on the dangers of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Also during the period, the Command is carrying out rehabilitation of four (4) drug dependent persons in the rehabilitation facility and they are responding positively to the process.

The Command has however, observed with dismay the alarming increase in the number of mothers (women) involved in drug activities in the State, which portends great danger to healthy upbringing of our youths.

With the resumption of academic activities across the state, at the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels, parents and teachers are urged to pay attention to their children and wards in order to ensure that they are not lured into drug activities.

The State Commander wishes to appreciate the Lagos State Government and the good people of Lagos State, sister Security Agencies as well as the media for their continuous support to the State Command and urge all Lagosians to continue to assist the Command by providing credible information of drug activities in their neighbourhoods.

“Together we will reduce the menace of drug abuse in Lagos State to the barest minimum” the Commander posited.