Agency arrests 72 drug suspects in Edo

The Edo command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Wednesday said it had arrested 72 suspects for various drug related offences in the state.

Commander of the agency in the state, Mr Buba Wakawa, stated this at a news briefing in Benin.Wakawa said that the suspects were nabbed at different spots across the state between September and Tuesday.

He said that Cannabis Sativa was the most prevalent of the seized drugs.

Wakawa explained that "ember months’’ were period associated with various criminal activities, saying criminal elements were always desperate to raise funds to meet their expenses.

"Arising from this, the NDLEA re-strategised to play its role in eliminating trafficking, supply and consumption of illicit drug in the society,’’ he said.

He assured the people of the state that the command was committed to ensuring that Edo was safe and peaceful during the yuletide.

He warned that the command would not condone any form of lawlessness "as any drug trafficker apprehended will be brought to justice’’.

The commander, however, appealed to the Edo Government to assist the command with operational vehicles to enable operatives effectively access remote areas in the fight against drug trafficking.

He also appeal to government to establish a rehabilitation facility in the state in realization of the agency’s four-year drug control master plan aimed at control and reduction of illicit drug activities nationwide.