The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it intercepted 2412.39 kilogrammes of various hard drugs in Oyo State within the third quarter of 2020, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported.
The Commander of the agency in the state, Josephine Obi, made this known in a report to journalists on Saturday by the agency’s PRO, Mutiat Okuwobi.
Obi said that the drugs seized comprised Indian hemp, Tramadol, Diazepam, Rohypnol, Colorado, codeine and other psychotropic substances in a coordinated raid across the state.
According to her, operatives of the command, within the period under review, also arrested 37 persons suspected of committing various drug offences.
“Thirty-one suspects were convicted for various drug offences with jail terms, ranging from six months to 10 years’ imprisonment.
She said, “The command also gave brief intervention via counselling to 49 people, who use drugs (PWUD).
“We rehabilitated six persons and integrated them back into society in this same period.
“The state command is investigating the seizure of a lorry load of compressed cannabis, weighing 2060.7 kilogrammes, transferred to us by the Nigeria Customs Services, Oyo/Osun Command.’’
The command, Obi further said, carried out sensitisation at 28 locations in Oyo State with 8316 participants.
She said that two Indian hemp farms, measuring 0.215380 hectares and 0.06400 hectares respectively, were also destroyed at Ajani Village in the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state.
The state commander advised the general public to be watchful and volunteer necessary and timely information to rid the state of illicit drug abuse and trafficking.
“The recovery of cannabis-infused foods and beverages is of great concern and calls for greater vigilance by parents and guardians to prevent their children and wards from becoming drug-dependent,’’ she said.
Punch