The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Oyo State Command, said it arrested 280 suspects for alleged trafficking and dealing in illicit drugs between January and August.

The state NDLEA Commander, Olayinka Joe-Fadile, disclosed this during an interview on Friday in Ibadan.

Mr Joe-Fadile stated that the arrested suspects comprised 246 males and 34 females, aged between 13 and 50 years, adding that 43 convicts were secured by the command during the period under review.

He said that some of the suspects were found in possession of narcotics, while others were indicted for dealing in substances such as cannabis sativa, tramadol, “skuches,” cocaine, pentazocine injection, and diazepam.

According to him, a total number of 38 cases were charged to court by the command during the period under review and are at different stages of court proceedings.

He noted that the command recorded a total seizure of 1.2 tonnes of cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances during this period.

Mr Joe-Fadile said that a suspect apprehended by the command and found in possession of human parts by the patrol team had been transferred to the police for proper investigation.

 He stated, “The command has admitted 19 clients for rehabilitation, four out of which had been rehabilitated and integrated back to society, while 524 persons were counselled in the last eight months.’’

He added that the command conducted a war against drug abuse sensitisation in 141 locations such as schools, communities, marketplaces, motor parks, churches, mosques, radio, and TV stations.

The commander vowed to continue public sensitisation on the dangers of illicit drug trafficking to make the state drug-free.

He commended the people of the state for their support and further solicited their continued cooperation to win the war against drug trafficking, abuse and ensure a peaceful environment in the state.

(NAN)