Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested 230 drug suspects in the state within the last eight months, with 45 convicted by the courts.

The agency disclosed that within the period, it also seized 251.026kg of illicit psychotropic substances from the suspects comprising 215 males and 15 females. The agency also said it has rehabilitated 45 drug addicts within the period under review while 25 others currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Abia State Commander of NDLEA, Bamidele Akingbade, made these known while parading 15 men caught with suspected psycho-tropic substances between August and September. The suspects were paraded in Aba, where four of them were arrested at a notorious drug spot in Osisioma Industrial Market known as the Black Kingdom.

“So far from January till date, we have been able to arrest about 230 suspects with 215 males and 15 female suspects.

“We have seized 251.026 kilogrammes of illicit psychotropic substances and we have secured 45 convictions from those whose cases went to court.

“Twelve new suspects will be arraigned in court in September while the trial of seven old suspects will continue.

“Currently, we have 25 drug-dependent persons who are undergoing rehabilitations. Within the year, about 45 clients have been treated and discharged from our facility," Akingbade said.

The Commander hinted that the agency would carry the campaigns against illicit drugs to schools this September to educate students on the dangers of drugs consumption with a view to discourage the practice.

“We are taking this step because we noticed a high preponderance for drugs use in the state,” he said, adding that the command has devised a new strategy for arresting operators of the black spots, which was already yielding results.

Akingbade said the Command needed vehicles to carry out its enormous task of raiding the many black spots in Abia and appealed to the state government for assistance.

•Photo shows NDLEA operatives.

Update news