The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Katsina State Command has arrested 1, 344 people for alleged drug abuse and trafficking in one year.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Hassan Sani-Abubakar, made the disclosure at a news briefing as part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Sani-Abubakar said that the suspects were apprehended from July 2023, when the commander assumed duty, to date.
He said the number comprised women and those who briefly counseled and released
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2024 theme is: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”.
He said the command had secured the conviction of 112 cases and 120 cases were pending at various courts.
According to him, 136 suspects were counseled and admitted at its facility for rehabilitation.
Sani-Abubakar revealed that 1, 161.831kilograms of cannabis sativa, 77.071 kg of psychotropic substances and 80.400 kg of other controlled drugs were recovered during the period under review.
“The rate of drugs and other psychotropic substance abuse and trafficking among the general public in the state remains alarming and of concern for the command and government.
“It cuts across all strata of community members which suggests that everybody is affected either directly or indirectly.
“It is a crystal fact that most of the people indulging in this inglorious trading of drugs are doing it for its huge economic and financial gains.
“And to that effect, the command has not relented in its operational tactics and strategies with a mission to cripple anybody found wanting, as we no longer see the drugs in usual places but unconventional business premises,” he said.
The commander, therefore, urged the public to continue to partner with the agency in exposing such bad eggs in the society.