Oyo NDLEA convicts 59 drug peddlers in 11 months

The NDLEA said it arrested 116 suspects within that period.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Oyo State Command, on Sunday said 116 suspects were arrested with 5, 697.9 kg of illegal drugs between January and November 2012.

The State NDLEA Commander, Suleiman Jadi, said in Ibadan that the suspects were being prosecuted.

Mr. Jadi said that the drugs seized comprised mainly cannabis sativa, and cocaine, which constituted a minute fraction.

“We were able to convict 59 persons ranging from three months to two years jail terms. Out of these 59, three were females.

“We also counselled 32 of them that were addicts, of which three have been fully rehabilitated and reunited with their families,’’ Mr. Jadi said.

He added that two vehicles impounded within the period had been forfeited to the Federal Government.

Mr. Jadi said that street drug peddlers, otherwise referred to as pocket dealers, had been the most difficult to apprehend based on their craftiness in escaping arrests.

He said that the peddlers often stocked their wares in pockets of the “combatant shorts’’ they wore.

According to him, the peddlers always take to their heels when they site a law enforcement agent.

The NDLEA commander urged the public to assist the agency with information that could lead to the arrests of illegal drug agents and also commended the state government in its efforts toward sanitising the state.

“The recent demolition of illegal market shanties across the metropolis, even in motor-parks, by the Oyo state government is highly welcome.

“It has helped drastically to reduce crime rate. Drug users and other criminals are just like lice that get attracted to unkempt hair.

“By removing these structures, which serve as hideout attractions, we have noticed that the criminal network of peddlers had also been stemmed and disappearing accordingly,’’ he said.

Mr. Jadi thanked the state government for assisting the command by providing logistics.

NAN