By Vitalis Ugoh
A total of 186 drug suspects were arrested by the Cross River command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2015, the State Commander, Mrs. Anthonia Edeh, has said.
Edeh told reporters in an interview in her office in Calabar a total of 368,908 kilograms of various categories of hard drugs were also impounded across the state.
She said that out of the number arrested, 169 were males while 17 were females, while the drugs seized include 368,479 cannabis sativa; 43,601 grams of cocaine; and nine grams of psychotropic substance.
She further stated that the Federal High Court in Calabar in the year under review convicted 54 suspects to various terms of imprisonment, ranging from 1-15 years for drug related offenses.
Edeh said that the Command carried out counselling and sensitization programs to members of the public in public places including schools, motor parks and markets.
As a result, she said 99 clients were counselled and reintegrated into the society while the public were sensitized on the inherent dangers of drug abuse and the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
She appealed for support from the state government and other relevant stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse and illicit drugs trafficking in the state.
Urging citizens to furnish the agency with information on illicit drug activities in the state, she said “my command will intensify effort in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in the state in this year.”
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