Lagos NDLEA arrests 420 drug suspects, convicts 69

The Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it has arrested 420 suspected drug traffickers in the past 10 months.

The agency added that within the same period, 69 persons had been convicted for drug related charges.

In a statement on Tuesday by the NDLEA Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, the agency said other cases were still pending in court.

NDLEA Lagos Commander, Mr. Aliyu Sule, described drug abuse in Lagos as alarming.

Sule said, “Between January and October, the command arrested 420 drug traffickers comprising 387 males and 33 females. A total of 8,300.277kg of drugs were also seized. The drugs include 8,186.320kg of cannabis, psychotropic substances 73.450kg, methamphetamine 34.016kg, heroin 4.688kg and cocaine 1.803kg.”

He also commended the Nigerian Army for  collaboration with the agency.

He added, “Within the period under review, we have had two successful joint operations with the military. The first raid carried out in June 2013, led to the seizure of 3,166.15kg and the arrests of 47 suspects. Another raid in November led to the arrest of 15 suspects with 680.266kg of narcotic drugs mostly cannabis.”

 NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, called for the assistance of the government and private sector in finding a lasting solution to the drug abuse problem.

He said, “We need the support of the government and private sector in the construction of an ultra-modern rehabilitation centre in Lagos.

“This is needed to effectively address the problem of drug abuse in the state.