The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Osun State Command arrested 252 suspects and seized 1,909.6920kg of illicit drugs in the state between January to December, 2023.
The State Commander, Nnadi Chidi, disclosed that 214 males and 38 females totalling 252 were arrested within the period.
This was made known in a press statement made available to Daily Monitor by the Command’s Public Affairs Officer, Odigie E Charles CSN at the weekend.
The Command also secured the convictions of 57 accused persons who were sentenced to various jail terms raging from 3 months to 5years imprisonment with 47 cases pending within the year under focus.
The State Commander added that within same period, the drug supply reduction efforts led to the discovery and destruction of 9.5 hectares of Cannabis Farms (23.759 tones) of cannabis sativa at Ifedayo and Oriade Local Government Areas.
Balancing supply and demand reductions, the Command equally embarked on War Against Drug Abuse( WADA) advocacy on substance abuse suppression in the State.
The Agency had a brief counseling intervention of 79 People Who Use Drug (PWUD) and also embarked on awareness/sensitization programs in Religious houses, Schools, Motor Parks, Markets and Workplaces etc.
The State Commander refuted an earlier aspersion alluded to Osun State as the second highest cannabis producing State in the South West.
He stressed that though there was a slight increase in the use of ‘loud” and other cannabis strains in the State, but empirically and going by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2018 report, Osun State remain 5th in the prevalence of Drug Use and Cultivation in South West region.
He advised those peddling such unfounded narrative to desist.
The State Commander used the medium to appreciate the Honorable Chairman Chief Executive, His Excellency Gen Buba Marwa Rtd, OFR, CON for his uncommon initiative and unwavering doggedness on WADA which he has inspired on the Agency’s performance within the last few years.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Nurudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke for his unalloyed and utter determination to rid the State of Substance Abuse.
He, however, solicited the continuous assistance of the Governor in achieving the WADA objectives.
He also appreciated all the stakeholders for their commitment in WADA and assured the good people of Osun State of the Agency’s resolve to make Osun State uncomfortable for Cannabis Cultivators and Dealers.
