NDLEA arrests 39, raids hard drug black spots in Abia

Abiodun Oba

30 hard drug black spots have been raided in Abia with 39 persons arrested in the last three months by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

Making the disclosure to newsmen in Aba on Tuesday, the commander of the agency in state Mr Bamidele Akingbade said the raid and arrest of the suspects took place between December 2018 and February 2019, adding that those involved included 34 males and 5 females.

Akingbade listed towns raided to include Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia, Arochukwu and Isiukwuato areas of the state.

According to him, drugs ranging from cannabis, skunk cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other psychotropic substances were found on them.

Other things found on the suspects, according to him are stimulants and depressants like tramadol, rophenol, diazepam, benelyn and codeine.

He said the agency also recovered eight locally-made single and double barrel guns and one pistol from one the suspects.

He said the command initiated the raids across the state with the intention to keep the state safe prior to the upcoming general elections.

“The action of the command is hinged on the premise that the line between violence and drug is thin.

“We have observed in the past, most of the past violent behaviours that characterised past elections have not been unconnected with the use of drugs.

“We could safely say that it is not impossible that some politicians may be planning again to induce our youths into violence in order to make them susceptible to violent behaviours.

“They may want to foment troubles during campaigns and elections by making hard drugs freely available to them,” he said.

He said those caught with the banned substances had been arraigned in courts while one case involving firearm recovery had been transferred to the police for further investigation.

He said other cases involving drug abuse had also been properly documented and suspects counselled and released to their parents and caretakers