The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Niger Command has arrested 71 traffickers with 2,022.36 kg of various illicit drugs between January and June.
The NDLEA Commander in Niger, Mr Haruna Kwetishe, said this at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Minna on Monday.
The agency within the period under review also seized 2,443 litres of liquid drugs and prosecuted 21 drug dealers to various jail terms.
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“The World Drug Day (WDD) is marked on June 26 every year.
“It is marked to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse,” he said.
Kwetishe said that the theme “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises”, gave prominence to the recent global experience with COVID-19 prevailing circumstances around the world.
According to him, this year’s theme beams light on an area of drug problem that has until recent years been on the back burner of the drug discourse.
“For us at the agency, we are abreast of time and trends as shown by the priority accorded treatment and care.
“Simultaneously, we have continued to shut the tap of illicit flow of drugs with the arrest of over 71 offenders with 2,022.368 kg of various assorted drugs and 2,443 litres of liquid drugs in the last six months.
“We convicted 21 drug dealers at the Federal High Court, Minna while investigation is on going on the remaining arrested victims,” he said.
He explained that the Drug Demand Reduction Department had been galvanised and working non-stop to ensure that the health aspect of the drug abuse calculus got adequate attention.
“We have intensified campaigns by means of sensitisation tagged War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) to educate youths on the effect and consequences of drug abuse in all public schools.
“We are partnering with the state ministry of education to ensure that drug free club is launched in every secondary and primary school because we believe in catching them young,” Kwetishe said.
The NDLEA boss said that the campaign would also be launched at wards and district levels across the state to sensitise residents to desist from indiscriminate use of drugs without medical prescription.
(NAN)