The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has declared that the most dangerous drugs circulated in the country are produced in Anambra State.
The state NDLEA Commander, Mr. Sule Momodu, who made the declaration on Saturday at the Women’s Development Centre in Awka to mark the 2015 United Nations Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking, identified one of the dangerous drugs produced in the state as methamphetamine
Momodu expressed worry over the increasing production of illicit drugs, abuse and trafficking in the state and called for a concerted effort to stop the development.
He disclosed that the anti-drug abuse and trafficking agency arrested at least 122 drug suspects between January and June this year. While 114 of them were men, eight were women.
A total of 110.624kg of illicit drug, he said, was seized during the period under review with cannabis sativa known as marijuana topping with 107.26kg.
Other seizures were cocaine, 138.2 grammes, heroine, 100.54grammes, liquid methamphetamine 2.615kg and solid methamphetamine 510 grammes.
The NDLEA commander said the agency also arraigned 22 suspects during the period, out of which eight convictions were obtained while 28 fresh cases were filed.
He expressed optimism that the agency would fight drug abuse and trafficking in the state, asking stakeholders to join hands in the campaign against drug abuse.
Momodu warned that if the war against illicit drug use and trafficking “is not won now, the scourge will take over the society soonest.”
He lauded the state Governor, Willie Obiano, for the support he had given to the agency, especially involving it in the State Security Council and the approval of a parcel of land in Awka, the state capital, for the building of the agency’s rehabilitation centre.
Momodu, however, called for the inauguration of the state Drug Control Committee to help drive national drug control plans and objectives.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jesophat Akabuike, who represented the governor at the event, restated the state’s commitment to the fight against crime in the state, including drug abuse and trafficking. Agency reports.