The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested 137 suspects with over two tons of cannabis sativa, 235 grammes of cocaine and 182 kilograms of other narcotic substances between January and October this year in Kaduna, North-West Nigeria.

NDLEA Commandant, Mohammed Jibrin, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in his office yesterday.

He said 70 suspects have been convicted for various drug-related offences and that the agency uncovered five cannabis farms in some parts of the state, while those cultivating such substances were equally arrested.

The commandant said the farms are located in Sanga, Kagarko, Jema’a and Zaria local government areas of the state.

Jibrin said the agency discovered the cannabis farms through information from indigenes of the communities and stressed the need for the public to furnish the agency with information that could enable it combat the increasing rate of drug abuse and peddling in the state.

He assured the public of confidentiality and the safety of any person that provides NDLEA with information that could enable the agency curb drug abuse and trafficking.

While calling on parents and guardians to be wary of the activities of their children, the commandant listed the following as new and unconventional forms of drug addition among the youth: sniffing of lizard excreta, pit toilets, smoking old papers and inhaling of petrol.

While commending the state governor, Muktar Ramalan Yero, for his assistance to the agency in the fight against drug abuse in the state, Jibrin stated that the agency has focused much of the fight on powerful drug barons in the state.

He also appealed to other security agencies in the state to always hand over drug suspects to the agency for prosecution, rather than them charging such suspects to court without proper consultation.

•Photo shows NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade.

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