The Katsina state Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 1,344 suspected drug dealers and drug traffickers.
Most of the suspects arrested who cut across all genders, were however briefly counseled and released.
The 17th NDLEA Commander in Katsina State, Hassan Abubakar made the disclosure on Thursday in Katsina at a press conference organized to herald a week- long programmes to commemorate 26th June set aside by the United Nations as International Day Against Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking.
The Commander also revealed that the agency seized a total of 1,161.831 KG of Cannabis Sativa, 77.0271 KG of Psychotropic Substances alongside 80.400 KG of other Control Drugs totalling 1,319.258 KG.
According to him, OPERATIONS Dislodgement of drug party at Shola Quarters in Katsina Metropolis and Bursting of Crack Cocaine Syndicate in the State remain the top points of the overall achievements recorded by the command.
Abubakar said the Command had also sensitized an estimated number of 56,016 participants and counseled 136 clients admitted.
The Commander who revealed that, the Command had secured 107 Convictions, recorded 112 Pending Cases alongside 120 New Legal Cases said, the Command also conducted 125 Sensitization Programmes and had a Brief Intervention on 529 Suspects.
The Commander revealed that despite its achievements, the agency was constrained by many bottle necks in combating drug menace in the State.
According to him, the challenges included unbecoming attitudes of some communities in obstructing officers’ assigned duties, the alarming rise in the influx of drugs and psychotropic into the state territory amidst all efforts the Command is putting in place to counter the move as well as the increased cases of women involvement into drug activities.
The State NDLEA Commander seized the opportunity provided by the press conference to showcase samples of the seizures made by the Command within the period under review.
The theme for this year’s celebration which has also coincided with 1 year in office anniversary of the State Commander is: Evidence is Clear: “Invest in Prevention”.
The Commander declared” The theme as you may observe advocates for strategizing proactive “Evidenced Based Preventive Measures against the menace of Drug Abuse rather than treatment and which ironically resonate the wise saying, “Prevention is Better Than Cure.
“Let me use this opportunity to also tell you that, this year’s occasion is fortunately coinciding with my one year anniversary as the 17th NDLEA Commander of my dear State, Katsina. So, I feel so much delighted for celebrating these two important events concurrently.
“As part of our critical and esteemed partners in the propagation of our WADA public enlightenment and advocacy effort against drug abuse and trafficking allow me to use this momentous occasion to express our deepest appreciation to what you have been doing in that direction.
‘Through your activities the general public get to know clearly the desirable impact of collaborations and partnership with NDLEA in fighting the scourge of illicit drug use and trafficking within our domain.
“The rate of drug and other Psychotropic Substance abuse and trafficking among the general public in the State still remains alarming and serious area of concern for the command and government. It cut 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 into this inglorious trading of drug are doing it for its huge economic and financial gains, and to that effect the Command has not relent 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.
“We urge the public to continue to partner with us in exposing such bad eggs in our midst.
“The task is enormous and has cost the Command huge financial and material resources as we match our words with actions, therefore the Command has set in motion some workable mechanisms to continue to disrupt the activities of drug dealers across the twelve (12) Area Commands and boarder posts.
“At this juncture It’s my pleasure to bring to your notice the unwavering commitments of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Muhammadu Buba Marwa Rtd. of taking the agency to the higher level of prestige and performance by approving the establishment of Offices across the Nigeria’s 774 Local Governments.
“Here in Katsina State, our effort to realize such development has been tremendous and stands tall above all other 36 states of the federation with cooperation and assistance of the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Mallam Dikko Umar Radda, Phd and Local Government Chairmen”.