The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) command in Cross River has reported the seizure of a total of 2.05 tons of hard drugs from drug peddlers between January and December in the state.
The state commander, Rachel Umebuali, who also serves as the Commander of Narcotics (CN), shared this information in an interview in Calabar on Monday. Umebuali revealed that 223 suspects were apprehended in connection with the drug seizures made during the year.
Among the arrested suspects, 22 were females, and 201 were males. The seized hard drugs included cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and psychotropics. Specifically, the breakdown of the seized drugs included 1.64 tonnes of cannabis, with cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and psychoactive substances accounting for 3.5 grams, 4.3 grams, 81.9 grams, and 410.24 kilograms, respectively.
While not providing specific figures, Umebuali mentioned that several suspects faced charges in court. Some of them were convicted, while others were discharged and acquitted by the courts. The narcotics commander expressed concern about the increasing cases of drug abuse among youths and identified vehicles and motorbikes as the preferred modes of operation for drug peddlers.
Despite facing challenges such as inadequate operational vehicles, inaccessible and poor roads (especially during the rainy season), cultism, and communal crises, Umebuali emphasized that the command achieved significant success in the outgoing year. Looking ahead, she stated the agency’s commitment to improving its performance in the coming year.