By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Bayelsa State Command says it has arrested 155 suspects in the state for various illicit drugs offences.
The Bayelsa State, NDLEA Commander, Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, stated this while speaking to journalists against the backdrop of activities marking the 2024 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with the theme, ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.’
Kanu said the command has equally made seizures of 97.826kgs. He said those arrested include 110 male and 45 females, totalling 155 suspects.
The Bayelsa State NDLEA boss further reiterated the importance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit trafficking is marked globally on 26th June every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free from illicit drugs, adding that this year’s theme is aimed at clearing doubts that prevention does not work, adding that as the saying goes, “prevention is not only better than cure, but it is also cheaper than cure.”
He lamented the incessant attacks on the command’s personnel and lack of a marine unit and gun boats to fight the war against drug abuse and Illicit trafficking in the coastal area, where he said there are preponderance of suspects who hide under the inaccessibility of the coastal communities to perpetrate the crime.
“Lagos State as a state with coastal communities has full fledged Marine unit with gun boats. Bayelsa being with riverine coastal communities also deserve a marine unit and gun boats. This we have been clamouring for.
“Our men are always attacked while on duty by youths. Though this has constituted a challenge, but has not dettered them from performing their duties.”
On strides achieved by the command, he said the command under his leadership has admitted 14 youths for in-patient drug rehabilitation, adding that six out of this number had been rehabilitated and discharged. While for brief intervention counseling cases, the command has counselled 107 clients, made up of 76 male and 31 female.
Besides, the command has taken 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, Kanu said.
“The command has also carried out intergrity drug test, which is for early detection, prevention and treatment of substance abuse. We have successfully carried out this test over 100 persons in the state from January to date,” he said.
Goodwill messages against drugs abuse and illicit trafficking were given by Dr (Mrs) Grace Scent of International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), Bayelsa State branch among others.
