The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Gombe State Command, in 2022 arested 290 suspects for various drug related offences and also seized 636.463kgs of drugs.
These comprises of 107.533kgs of cannabis sativa, 528.46kgs of psychotropic drugs such as Tramadol, Diazepam, Codeine, Pentozacine etc and 0.47grams of Amphetamines.
The State Commander, Mrs E. S Egwunwoke, said in a statement that the suspects comprise of 269 male and 21 female.
He said the command had arrested one person, who had already been handed over to the police, with seven rounds of 18mm caliber live ammunition used in Ak 47 riffle.
Prosecution
The Gombe State NDLEA Command said it had recorded a giant stride to sanitize the state, with the prosecution of 140 persons, secured 23 convictions with varying jail terms and had. 117 pending cases at the federal high court, Gombe.
Sensitisation, Counselling and Rehabilitation
The NDLEA said it had counselled 107 persons who use drugs and rehabilitated 12 clients at their Rehabilitation Centre in Gombe and that they had been re-integrated with their families.
It had also carried out drug sensitisation programmes, such as talks, lectures and seminars delivered to several schools, youth groups, religious organisations, communities and private organisations across the State.
“The command fully participated in the security summit organized by Gombe State Government during which our State Commander delivered a paper with a loud ovation addressing and proffering solutions to various security challenges in the state,” the Gombe State NDLEA command stated.
The command stated that it had featured periodical programmes in various Radio and Television stations, as part of their campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the State.
It appreciated the efforts of othe media partners who had helped in keeping the programmes in the public space.
The State Commander called on the State Government, all well meaning individuals, traditional rulers, religious organisations and other stakeholders to join hands with the NDLEA in tackling the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state.
“We must not only take responsibility, we must take action. We have made tremendous impact in the war against drug abuse (WADA). The war must not only be wedged on all sides but it must be encouraged and sustained by all to keep the state safe,” Mrs. Egwunwoke.
Confidence Okwuchi