By; SULAIMAN AHMED MISAU, Katsina
National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 345 suspected illicit drug users and sellers in Katsina State, from January, 2022 to date.
The state NDLEA Commander, Mr Mohammed Bashir, disclosed this at a media briefing in his office said that 15 of the suspects had been convicted.
Mr Bashir said the briefing was part of activities to commemorate the 2022 United Nation (UN) Week against Drug Abuse and Trafficking.
The week has the theme: ”Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and humanitarian Crises”.
According to Bashir, 339 of the 345 nabbed suspects are males while six are females.
He explained that most of the 338 suspects had been counseled and rehabilitated. stressing that some of the suspects were traffickers, dealers and petty sellers.
“It is sad to note that over 90 per cent of arrested suspects and counseled clients fell between the age brackets of 15 to 40 years,” Mr Mohammed Bashir said.
According to him the United Nation Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking was celebrated all over the world to highlight the socio-economic, Political and security implications of abuse of drugs and trafficking on the society.
Mr Muhammad Bashir said “In Katsina State, we have marked a plan of action to commemorate it in consonance with the objectives it intends to achieve and this year’s activities will begin on June 20 through June 26.”
As usual, he said each day of this special week was expected to be marked with laudable activities to highlight the challenges illicit drugs posed to society.
Mr. Mohammed Bashir said the activities would include quiz competition among secondary schools in the three senatorial zones of Katsina, Daura and Funtua with public sensitization.
He emphasized that, other activities include a one-day seminar for law enforcement officers, Juma’at prayer, sport competition, church service and lecture.
