By Francis Sardauna
The Katsina State Command of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 158 suspected drug traffickers with 361.15kg of assorted hard drugs between January to date.
The command also said 16 suspects have been successfully prosecuted and jailed, while others were still at various stages of investigation.
The Commander of the agency, Mr. Sule Momodu, who disclosed this at a press conference in Katsina as part of a week-long activities to commemorate the 2020 United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said the command had also counselled 120 drug addicts.
He explained that majority of the suspects were men, but there are few cases of women suspects, saying: “We are determined to rid the state of illicit drug consumption.
“There is no crime committed without element of drug. So fighting drug abuse will address the insecurity currently facing the country.”
He admonished illicit drug dealers and vendors to opt for other legitimate businesses as they contribute in escalating crimes in the society, warning that the agency would not condole such acts.
The commander reiterated NDLEA’s commitment to checkmate illicit drugs trade, adding that the agency would not relent in its ongoing war against drug abuse and human trafficking in order to end the scourge in the state.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Katsina State governor on Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, Mr. Hamza Brodo, said the state government had constructed reformatory homes in Funtua, Daura and Katsina senatorial zones for counseling of drug addicts.
