NDLEA Arrests 155 Suspects, Seizes 97kg of Illicit Drugs in Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported significant progress in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, with the recent arrest of 155 suspects for various drug-related offenses in the state.

The state NDLEA Commander, Kanu Chukwuemeka, announced this on Wednesday during a press conference in Yenagoa, the state capital. Speaking at the 2024 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “The evidence is clear: Invest in Prevention,” he also revealed that the Command had seized 97.826 kg of various illicit drugs.

He expressed concerns over the frequent attacks on the Command’s personnel and the lack of a marine unit and gunboats to combat drug abuse and trafficking in coastal areas. “Lagos State, with its coastal communities, has a fully-fledged marine unit with gunboats. Bayelsa, with its riverine coastal communities, also deserves a marine unit and gunboats, which we have been advocating for. Our men are often attacked while on duty by youths. Although this poses a challenge, it has not deterred them from performing their duties,” he said.

Highlighting the successes achieved, he mentioned that under his leadership, the command had admitted 14 youths for in-patient drug rehabilitation, out of which six have been rehabilitated and discharged. “The NDLEA also conducted Integrity Drug Tests for early detection, prevention, and treatment of substance abuse. We have successfully carried out these tests on over 100 persons in the state from January to date. Additionally, for brief intervention counseling cases, the Command has counseled 107 clients, comprising 76 males and 31 females.

“Moreover, the Command has extended the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through drug sensitization to communities, schools, churches, motor parks, markets, and radio stations, thus reaching out to every soul in Bayelsa State,” he added.