The Borno state Command of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 16,904.31 kilogrammes of illicit drugs with arrests of 544 suspects. While announcing the seizures and arrests Thursday in Maiduguri, NDLEA’s State Commandant, Joseph Icha said that the successes were recorded in 2020. In breakdown of arrests, he said: “Out of 544 arrested suspects, 537 are males, while seven others are females. He added that 44 seizures were made, while other suspects fled the scene of operations in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area of Borno state. According to him, the seized illicit drugs, comprise cannabis sativa, various psychotropic substances, cocaine and heroin. He said in August last year, the agency destroyed 19,904.31kgs of illicit drugs along Maiduguri/Dikwa road. “Nine cars and a mini bus were also seized in the operations from the suspected drug peddlers,” he said, adding that the command also secured three interim forfeiture of three vehicles of arrested suspects. He said that the agency is processing an interim forfeiture of three bedroom flats and two boy’s quarters that were used to stockpile over 10,500kgs of marijuana. Continuing, he added: “We also secured interim forfeiture for N1.95 million within the period under review. “A total of 397 offenders went through counselling by interim intervention; while 14 others went through residential counselling.” He said that what is more worrisome is the alarming rate of drug abuse in some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. Icha noted that since the Agency don’t conduct raids in the camps, surveillances are being conducted in IDP camps in collaboration with security agencies. “This is to track down suppliers of illicit drugs to the various IDP camps,” he said. Lamenting poor working facilities; he said: “Despite these successes recorded, the Command is facing some challenges such as poor infrastructure and logistics and lack of patrol vehicles. “With the security challenges in Borno and considering the quantity of drugs seizures, there is need for more funding to the command. “For the agency to maintain and sustain this record, we need government attention both from state and federal governments.” He noted that most of the agency’s patrol vehicles in liberated communities were torched by Boko Haram terrorists. He said as the speed boat was set ablaze, the command need more patrol vehicles for its operations across the state.
