The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ebonyi State Command, said it seized 115.226 kilograms of various illicit substances and arrested 149 suspects in the third quarter of the year.

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Peter Ogar, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

He stated that the arrest and seizure are made in different locations in the state between July and September 2024.

Mr Ogar said, “The agency in Ebonyi had also within the period counselled 82 suspects, comprising 64 and 18 females. In total, we arrested 149 suspects, comprising 112 males and 37 females between the age brackets of 26 and 72 years. The figure represents both drug dealers, drug users and traffickers.”

He listed the seized substances to include crack cocaine, 0.0023kg, cannabis sativa, 55.492kg, codeine syrup, 0.393kg, tramadol tablets, 0.004kg, tramadol capsule, 0.437kg, diazepam 917 tablets, 0.964 and 47 amps, 0.226kg.

“Others are methamphetamine, 0.0054kg, bromazepam, 75 tablets, 0.034kg, lorazepam 476 tablets, 0.100kg, monkey tail, 56 litres, 42.2kg, raphynol 24 tablets, 0.009kg and other psychotropic substances grossly weighing 115.226 kgs in all.”

He added that during the period under review, one person was convicted.

“We were also able to carry out a sensitisation campaign of citizens in the state like youth groups and community heads on the need to end drug abuse and trafficking,” he said.

The commander reiterated the officers’ readiness to combat illicit drug trafficking not only in Ebonyi State but Nigeria at large.

“We carried out a series of sensitisation in primary and secondary schools in some local government areas of the state. I thank God for the harmonious and cordial relationship that exists between the command and other security agencies,” Mr Ogar added.

(NAN)