NDLEA ARRESTS 396 DRUG SUSPECTS

Katsina

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested 396
persons for various drugs offences in Katsina State, last year.

The figure was given by the state's Commander of the Agency, Alhaji
Hamisu Lawan, in an interview in Katsina.

He said the suspects were promptly prosecuted, with 74 of them
sentenced to various jail terms by a Federal High Court.

The commander, who said the trial of 25 other suspects was on-going,
said 34 suspects, confirmed to be drug addicts, were receiving
treatment at the state reformatory centre in Katsina.

The other suspects, he said, were referred to the counselling unit of
the command where they were undergoing intensive counselling.

He also disclosed that the command seized a total of 4.494
kilogrammes of illicit drugs comprising cocaine, marijuana and other
psychotropic substances within the period under review.

Lawan disclosed that the seized drugs were destroyed publicly in the
state capital last year.

According to him, two Indian hemp farms found to be under cultivation
in Funtua Local

Government Area were also destroyed by NDLEA operatives.

He said those who cultivated the farms were arrested and charged to
court but did not disclose their number.

The commander commended the state government for establishing the
reformatory centre in Katsina to complement the Agency's drug abuse
control effort.

He expressed satisfaction at the support the Agency was enjoying from
the people and urged them to sustain the co-operation to make the
state drug-free.