The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested no fewer than 225 illegal drug suspects between January and June in Osun.

Statistics provided by the state commander of NDLEA, Oluwarotimi Adetula, on Monday in Osogbo, said the arrested suspects were 174 males and 51 females.

He said 43 suspects, comprising 40 males and three females, were charged to court in the period under review, with the NDLEA securing 22 convictions.

“Over 654.424kg narcotics comprising 502.932kg Cannabis Sativa, 3.4kg Cocaine, 62.692kg psychotropic substance and 85.4kg Methamphetamine were also seized in the period under review,” Mr Adetula stated.

The agency also carried out 125 drug sensitisation and awareness programmes, with 116 drug users counselled and two rehabilitated.

“Two Cannabis Sativa farms/plantations were also destroyed during the months under review,” the commander said.

Mr Adetula said the agency was working with the outline of the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) to tackle the scourge of drug abuse through a supply and demand reduction strategy.

He said the drug supply reduction strategy targets those involved in drug cultivation and production, as well as traffickers of illegal drug substances.

“The demand reduction strategy entails drug abuse prevention education in schools and public places, advocacy visits, as well as treatment and rehabilitation of drug users,” he said.

The commander reiterated the NDLEA’s commitment to making Osun uninhabitable to drug barons and traffickers. He urged residents to join the agency in its fight against drug abuse.

(NAN)