Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), is gaining the upper hands against the wars on drugs and their peddlers in Edo State following the arrest of 252 of them in nine months.
The Edo NDLEA state Commander, Buba Wakawa said this through the Assistant Commander, Narcotic, in charge of Media and Advocacy, Ondoimi Bebetu, in Benin
He said the suspects were arrested between January and September this year across Edo state.
“From January till date, NDLEA has arrested 252 suspected drug traffickers and peddlers.Some of them have been jailed, some are still in court while other have been counseled”.
He said the arrested suspects who are considered users were counseled and released to their loved ones, adding that the law permit the agency to counsel them
He explained that in fighting against drug traffickers, the agency liase with the police, army, DSS and other sister agencies to carry out periodic raids in hotels and event centres in the state to arrest drug dealers and traffickers
“We go to hotels and recreational centres where young boys and girls hide to traffick drugs.The arrested suspects are usually sieved to know those who are dealers, drug peddlers and users”
He said though the drug war in Edo state has been very challenging but the agency has been doing its best in curtailing drug use and supply drug chain in the state
“Some of the commonest drug from this pocket dealers are cannabis, tramadol, metalphy cocaine, heroine, colorado and codeine syrup. The users sniff this drug, sometimes cook or chew them raw while they smoke the dried one, and swallow tramadol”, Wakawa said.