Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
In an effort to rid the state of hard drugs, the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 30 suspected drug peddlers, dealers and prostitutes in Edo state.
The agency also seized drugs worths hundreds of thousand of naira.
Parading the suspects, Ondotimi Bebetu, Assistant Commander in Charge of operation, Edo NDLEA, said the suspect were arrested following a raid on hotels, drugs and drinking joints as well as hide out.
“The state government has discovered that cult fight in the state was as a result of drug use, they are acting under the influence of hard drug. The governor directed that the state security agencies should mop up the society of drug use”.
“The arrests were made from two days exercise against drug use and abuse carried out in Ihama and Country Home roads within Benin metropolis by NDLEA”.
“We raided joints where drugs dealings are being perpetrated. You see a lot of things there in the hostels. You see all manner of people in the hotels where they harbour themselves and do a lot of things. Prostitution is also one of those aspects that is causing problem in the state. It is alleged that they are also using drugs. Hotels are raided, drugs joints were also raided.
“We arrested 30 suspects in ratio of 15 to 15, that is 15 male and 15 female, this is coincidental. Some times it could be male and sometimes it could be worth female. The suspects were arrested at hotels, drug and drinking joint among others”
He said most of the suspects were sex workers, dealers and drug users, adding that the sex workers which is not under their mandate would be transfered to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffick in Person (NAPTIP).
“Investigation is still ongoing with suspects and the exhibit. There are two categories of investigation that we carried out. The dealer aspect and then the users aspect.
“If any of them is found wanting as a dealer, of course that person will be charged to court. Those who are using it either as a first time users, those who are using it to high themselves or those using it as social drug, we are going to investigate that and counsel them”.
Bebetu listed the drug seized from suspects to include tramadol, cannabis sativa, dried and fresh leaves among others.
He said the command is working to nip in the bud the chain of drug distribution in the state by locating cannabis farm as well as setting them ablaze.
