June 26 (THEWILL) — The Bayelsa State Command of the anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says it has intercepted 477.668 kilograms of various illicit hard drugs within one year and arrested 620 suspects.
The state Commander and Controller of Narcotics, CN Kanu S. Chukuemeka, stated this at a media parley with journalists during the 2026 World Day against Drug Abuse and illicit trafficking in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “World Drug Problems, Resisting Issues with new challenges”, saying that the theme aptly reflects the operational realities we have encountered within one year in Bayelsa state.
According to him, the Command under the period under review has recorded the arrest of 429 male suspects and 191 female suspects, totalling 620, and these statistics indicate that while drug abuse affects both genders, young men are unequally represented.
He further posited that the agency had made seizures of drugs, such as psychotropic substances, which consist of 52,740 tablets and capsules, injectable substances 1,152 ampoules, and codeine-based cough syrups 208 bottles. Cannabis sativa infused with alcohol, known as koskorin or monkey tail, 437.203 litres.
Hence, the total weight of all narcotics and psychotropic substances seized within the period is 477.668 kilograms.
“The command has also treated and rehabilitated, after a drug test, 591 persons and 29 clients admitted to our facility. While our efforts to cut down the supply of drugs, we have to prioritise the prosecution of offenders, and we have 18 cases, convictions secured 17, and ongoing cases 62.”
He, however, disclosed that the abuse of psychotropic substances and cannabis infused concoction continued to be prevalent among the aged 21 – 25, and sensitisation has been intensified in secondary schools across the state.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the chairman and chief executive officer of NDLEA, Brig General Muhammad Buba Marwa, rtd, for his visionary leadership and transformative policies of the agency and the Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri, who has not relented in supporting the command whenever we approach him.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
