NDLEA Worries Over Increased Drug Abuse In Kano With Truck Drivers Fingered As Couriers

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kano State Command, says there has been an increase of drug abuse in the state since the COVID-19 lockdown.

The NDLEA Commander, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, stated this when he addressed newsmen on events to mark the 2020 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Kano on Friday.

Abdul said the agency intercepted 7,873,937kg of harmful drugs during the lockdown.

He said in May, the command intercepted over 1.2 tonnes of various hard drugs, including 4,374.629kg of psychotropic substances, 87kg of cocaine and eight kilograms of heroin.

Abdul also said the command intercepted a vehicle loaded with compressed cannabis weighing 283kg in Wudil on transit to Bauchi State and another vehicle caught on Kano to Zaria Road conveying 300 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 223kg.

He said that from June, 2019, up to date, the agency had arrested 565 suspects, including 16 females in Kano, and secured conviction of 85, while six cases were still pending at Federal High Court, Kano.

The commander, said the agency lacked adequate manpower, logistics, facilities and materials to accommodate addicts who required counseling and rehabilitation.

“Worthy to note is the fact that a syndicate of barons dealing in cocaine was uncovered by our team, where male and female suspects were apprehended with cocaine weighing 100gm.

“During the period under review, 34 regular clients were counseled and rehabilitated, while 723 suspects were referred for brief intervention,” Abdul said.

The NDLEA boss identified lack of adequate manpower, shortage of logistics, inadequate facilities to accommodate addicts that required counseling and rehabilitation as some of the challenges facing the agency in the state.