The Oyo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has prosecuted no fewer than 23 drug offenders from January 2022 to date.
The State Commander of the agency, Abdullahi Saeed, said this in Ibadan on Friday while addressing newsmen against the backdrop of the 2022 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the June 26 day is: “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crisis”.
Saeed said that the agency had arrested 159 suspected drug traffickers and offenders from January to date.
“From January 2022 to date, Oyo State Command of NDLEA conducted various raids in the city of Ibadan, towns, and villages within the state.
”Patrols were also conducted both day and night along Lagos- Ibadan highway, Ibadan-Ife expressway as well as other busy roads within the state.
“These raids and patrols resulted in the arrest of a total of 159 suspects and a total seizure of 824.93 kg of illicit drugs.
”They comprised cannabis sativa, cocaine, skoochies, amphetamine, tramadol, and other psychotropic substances,’’ he said.
According to him, it is pertinent to state here that we are witnessing a new abusive substance in the state which is called skoochies.
“Skoochies is a mixture of a variety of drugs prepared to give high effect on the users.
“It is usually cannabis, tramadol and hot drinks mixed and soaked together in water from which shots are taken,” Saeed said.
According to the commander, the command also succeeded in counselling 65 drug users and rehabilitated four others who were reintegrated into their families.
Saeed appealed to all the stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to avail the agency of their support to rid the state of illicit drug use and trafficking.
“Let me state at this juncture that although we made some steady success in the area of arrests, seizures, and sensitization, the command has been facing some challenges.
”This is in the area of vehicles for operation, standard cell for detainees, exhibit storing facility, and standard counseling and rehabilitation facilities.
“The agency needs funds with which to carry out operations and activities.
“These challenges have been slowing down our operations. Often times we had to suspend operations for two to three weeks so as to allow the cells to be decongested before bringing in new suspects,” he said.
Saeed, however, said that in spite of the challenges facing the agency in the discharge of its mandate, it would not relent in its commitment to ensuring a drug-free society.
“I want to seize this opportunity to sound a note of warning to those who deal in illicit drugs to give up the business.
”This is just as we are determined more than ever before to go after them, seize their drugs, and prosecute them accordingly.
“By the grace of God, we shall do everything possible to achieve our mandate,” he said.