NDLEA seizes 10,000kg marijuana, secures 241 convictions in Ondo

• Published On: 26 June 2024 at 17:10

On Wednesday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced that between June 2023 and May 2024, it had apprehended 10,000 kg of marijuana and successfully secured the conviction of 241 suspects in Ondo State.

This was said by Mr. Kayode Raji, the NDLEA Narcotics Commander for Ondo State, following a sensitization walk around several areas of Akure's downtown on Monday in honor of the 2024 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking.

According to Raji, the command's drug demand reduction initiative in the state resulted in the rehabilitation of over 20 individuals and the counseling of 18 others during the period under consideration.

According to the Narcotics Commander, 120 farmers who were growing marijuana on their farms throughout the state were also taken into custody.

According to Raji, the agency's initiatives in all of its state-wide areas of responsibility are designed to raise awareness among all citizens.

He claims that rather than releasing the total number of arrests, the agency is putting more of its resources toward stopping the use of illegal drugs and planting.

The commander remarked, "The joy in treating drug addicts is that we follow up with them to make sure they don't relapse into their old habits after they are rehabilitated and returned to society."

Mr. Seyi Ogundipe, an official with the National Association of Nigeria Students and an NDLEA Ambassador, stated that the day was significant since it aimed to prevent young people from using illegal substances.

According to Ogundipe, the national student body would keep pushing for a society devoid of drugs.

"Evidence is Clear, Invest in Prevention" is the topic for the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

In an effort to raise awareness of the problem, the UN designated June 26 of each year as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking.

In many operations around the states of Lagos, Edo, and Ondo in March, the NDLEA confiscated about 44,948.1 kg of illegal drugs and detained eight individuals.

Eleven cars that belonged to the drug cartels were also taken by the anti-drug organization.