Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Frank Hanachor, said yesterday that the agency arrested 107 suspects in connection with drug abuse and trafficking.
Hanachor said this at a news conference in Yenagoa as part of the activities marking this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Substance.
The commander said of the suspects arrested, 96 were males while 11 were females.
He said the arrests and seizures were made possible through the collaboration of other security agencies.
Hanachor said the various drug types the agency seized including cocaine weighed 109.669 kilogrammes in the last six months.
He also said that no fewer than 60 persons underwent counselling, noting that the agency also went to schools and motor parks to sensitise people to the danger of indulging in drug abuse and trafficking.
He said the fight against drug abuse and trafficking was the responsibility of all Nigerians, insisting that without collaboration, the battle would be far from being won.
He said during the period, the NDLEA was able to secure four convictions, stressing that it was about three months ago that a judge was assigned to the Federal High Court in Yenagoa.
He said, “In the aspect of prosecution, the whole of last year, we never had a High Court Judge in Bayelsa. It is a different story now – about two months ago, a judge has been assigned to the Federal High Court.
“Since January, we have been able to secure four convictions. This does not mean the battle against illicit drugs is not yielding result. With the coming of the new Judge, they want to start most of our cases afresh,” he said.
He said the four suspects that had so far been convicted this year bagged between two and five years.
He said contrary to insinuation, the agency had yet to discover cannabis sativa farm in Bayelsa State.
Hanachor also alerted the public of the activities of some persons impersonating the personnel of the agency, warning that should anybody fall victim of such impersonators, the person must insist on going with them to the office of the NDLEA.
He said in the last few weeks, many people had been defrauded by people posing as the agency’s personnel.
He assured members of the public that the agency was working hard to ensure that the culprits were caught and prosecuted.
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