By Okhide Em’ya David
War against illegal Drugs consumption and sales in Edo State, on Wednesday recorded tremendous boost as the State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency( NDLEA) arrested 262 suspected traffickers.
NFLEA State Commander, Mr. Buba Wakayama told Journalists in Benin City that they also seized 15,253.82kg of narcotics including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and tramadol in 2020.
Mr Buba Wakawa disclosed that one hundred and eighty males and eighty-two females were arrested while 10 vehicles used in smuggling illicit drugs were equally impounded within the period under review.
He said fifteen cannabis plantations measuring 11.82 hectares were identified and destroyed. The Commander said 86 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled and reunited with their families adding that 8 drug traffickers were convicted, as 220 cases were pending at the Federal High Court as at December 31, 2020.
Mr. Buba Wakawa said that the command recorded good achievements despite the Covid 19 lockdown and the End-SARS protest that led to the destruction of the State Command Headquarters.
He said the Drug law enforcement Agency discovered new weird modes of drug concealment adopted by drug barons including use of silos, underground tunnels, cannabis warehouses as well as false compartments in trucks, buses and cars.
Buba however thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki for his prompt response in providing a temporary accommodation for the Command following the destruction of the State Command Headquarters in Benin City during the End-SARS protest in October last year.
He expressed optimism that the Command will perform better in reducing the problem of drug trafficking and abuse in the State this new year.
