The National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has destroyed illicit drugs worth over N1billion and weighing 17,000 kilogrammes in Ibadan.
The agency said the illicit drugs were seized between 2017 and 2021, adding that it has arrested 153 suspects for drug offences between January 1 till date and seized 815.88kg of illicit drugs, while it secured 31 convictions so far.
The agency destroyed illicit drugs worth over N1 billion weighing 17,000 kilograms in Ibadan. Chairman of the agency, Brig-Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa (rted), who disclosed this yesterday, decried the huge challenge of drug trafficking and abuse in Oyo State.
He said the large seizure by the state Command, indicated that there is high drug use prevalence in the state. He called for cooperation between the agency and concerned stakeholders in salvaging the situation.
Represented by the Secretary of the agency, Shadrach Haruna, Marwa said the occasion was an open window for the public to have an insight into what the officers and men of the agency are doing behind the scenes.
He said: “To be destroyed today is an illicit drug haul weighing approximately 16,799kg, comprising 16,473kg of cannabis sativa, four grammes of cocaine and 326kg of psychotropic substances. The worth of these substances is well over N1billion.
“What this large seizure by the Oyo State Command of NDLEA tells us is that there is significant drug use prevalence in the state.
“We can hardly quantify the scale of the problem averted by preventing these substances from falling into wrong hands. We know too well the kinds of problems that result from the abuse of illicit substances just as we are aware that some of the challenges facing our society are due to in part to years of passivity towards matters of abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs.
“Besides the escalation of the usual crimes of robbery, we have seen widespread insecurity manifesting in the form of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency to mention but a few, which have been disruptive to the socio-economic life of the country. In all of these, there is no discounting the role of abuse of illicit substances as an enabling factor.”
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde has stressed that the security of life and property of people in the state is a cardinal focus of his government.
Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Bamiwo Adeosun, reiterated his administration’s support for the activities of the agency. He stressed that illicit drugs are definitely a menace in society.
According to him, if there is no market, the drugs will not be popular, hence prevention is better than cure. Earlier, Oyo State commander of the agency, Abdullahi Saeed, disclosed that a total of 358 suspects were arrested in connection with the drugs.
He said they will be diligently prosecuted, while 203 out of them had been convicted and sentenced to various prison terms