The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kwara says it has arrested 225 suspected drug traffickers and seized 809,200 kilogrammes of illicit drugs in the state from January to June.

The acting state commander of the agency, Odewale Adebimpe, disclosed this while addressing journalists in commemoration of the year 2023 United Nations Drug-Free Day in Ilorin on Tuesday.

She said that during the period, the command secured 57 convictions and counselled 99 inmates while 39 cases were still pending.

According to her, the slow pace of the criminal justice system and the reluctance of some judicial officers to visit the full wrath of the law on offenders was a setback in countering narcotics efforts in the country.

She expressed worry over the involvement of students of institutions of higher learning in drug abuse.

The NDLEA commander explained that the command was conducting intelligence-led operational activities to reverse the trend in addition to various advocacy and enlightenment measures.

Ms Adepimpe called on the state government and other stakeholders to support the agency to reduce drug abuse and trafficking to the minimum.

On her part, the Kwara drug control committee chairperson, Barakat Olanrewaju, called for a collaboration of all stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse.

She also appealed to parents to be interested in their children’s activities to prevent them from joining bad groups.

(NAN)