FCT Command, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has seized 3,546.632 kilograms of hard drugs.
NDLEA, FCT Commander, Mr Lawan Hamisu, stated that the drugs were seized in a coordinated operation across the Territory from January to July and comprised Cannabis sativa, Cocaine, Tramadol, Exol, Rophynol and Diazepam.
Hamisu in a chat with NAN in Abuja on Monday, said, “0.061kg of cocaine, 0.842kg of Rophynol, 4.975kg of Diazepam, 2.46kg of Exol and 242.267kg of Tramadol were seized making the total of 3,546.632kg.
“Within the corridors of FCT, if this has been allowed to be in circulation, what will have been the catastrophe that it would have resulted.
“In the same vein, we have issues of cocaine which is very much pronounced as the most notorious drugs, which I must confess is becoming a very saddening event to most families.
“One thing I will like to draw our attention to, including our sister agencies, like NAFDAC for instance, is the increasing abuse of illicit drugs.
“Drugs that ordinarily suppose to be medicinal, but now they are being abused.
“Cough syrup for instance is becoming increasingly abused not only in FCT but in other parts of the country.
“This is a very serious issue for NDLEA as we are very much concern. And we have been drawing and will continue to draw the attention of relevant authorities to this.”
Hamisu said that total conviction from January to July were 75, adding that June had the highest conviction of 37 out of the 75.
According to him, we referred about 80 out of the number arrested for counselling, while 10 persons walked themselves to the office to submit themselves to the agency.
“These 10 really wanted an intervention and we are glad to say that some are with us for three months and six months respectively; they have been discharged because they are working class and they have to return back to their work.
“At the moment, we are on the follow up and aftercare monitoring and services; I will say that is how far we have gone with the rehabilitation process in FCT,’’ he said.
Hamisu said that the number of female arrested within the 7 months could be a bit small but it was disturbing, adding that the frightening thing lately was the demography of drug abuse and trafficking.
According to him, the demography changes shape because you have the involvement of students, commercial sex workers, and you equally have even housewives.
The NDLEA commander said that the agency would continue to carry out its duties in line with global best practices to ensure that the territory was free of drug related issues.
