NDLEA seizes 6,975.6kgs of illicit drugs in Plateau

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that the agency seized a total of 6,975.6 kilogrammes of illicit drugs across Plateau in the last two years.

The NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja when Governor Caleb Mutfwang visited him.

Marwa listed the drugs seized to include cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, among others.

He stated that the seizures led to the arrest of 1,720 suspects, of whom 156 were convicted while the trials of others were ongoing.

The NDLEA chairman commended the governor for his commitment to ensuring peace, security of life, and property on the Plateau.

Marwa urged the governor to support a standard rehabilitation centre and activate drug control committees at the state, local government, and community levels to further strengthen the agency’s drug demand reduction efforts.

He urged Mutfwang to also adopt a drug testing policy in schools, homes, and communities across the state.

Mutfwang, who spoke earlier, commended Marwa’s leadership skills in the turn around and performance of the NDLEA since he assumed the chairmanship of the agency in 2021.

“We’ve closely followed your performance, and we can say that since your coming on board, NDLEA has gone about its functions with more vigour and determination.

“And I know that quite a lot of the people who profit from trading illicit drugs have not found it easy since your coming on board.

“I am here because we are genuinely concerned about the impact that substance abuse and trading in illegal drugs are having on our state, and we want to seek better ways of collaboration.

“We will continue to look for ways and means of trying to reduce the influence of substance abuse in our society.

“And one thing that is very critical is that while we have paid a lot of attention to the demand side, to the user, we need to look again at the supply side.

“On our part as a state, we are willing to be able to collaborate more with you and make sure that we reduce this menace to the barest minimum. And so, we’ve come today just to reinvigorate that cooperation.

“So far, we have enjoyed the cooperation of your staff, and we want to continue to do more, share intelligence, and see how we can collaborate,” he stated.