According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's (NDLEA) Akwa Ibom Command, in 2023, the organization was able to secure 68 convictions and 12 cases of rehabilitation.
This was said by the agency's State Commander, Mrs. Obot Bassey, on Tuesday during a news conference in Uyo.
According to Bassey, the command apprehended 195 individuals at that time, of which 159 were men and 36 were women, and confiscated drugs totaling 1,267.24 kg.
She added that throughout that time, the leadership gave advice to no fewer than 278 individuals, of whom 263 were men and 15 were women.
"We obtained 68 convictions over the period under review, and all of them are currently serving varying prison sentences in our detention facilities.
It is clear that the command accomplished more in 2023 when compared to the figures from 2022.
"Drug seizures have increased by 175% since 2022, when 460.344 kg of drugs were seized, and in 2023, 1,267.24 kg.
Drug traffickers alter their tactics frequently to avoid capture, making the war on drugs a difficult one to wage.
In a same spirit, police are constantly attentive and on the lookout for threats, leading to close pursuit.
Bassey stated, "The increase in criminal activities, such as frequent cult clashes, youth unrest, daring armed robbery cases, kidnapping, militancy, and the like, is the implication of the prevalence of hard drugs in Akwa Ibom."
She added that the state has been classified as "mostly a consumer/transit state with drug dealers trying to strew illegal drugs all over the streets."
She said that in order to combat the drug problem, the organization will keep working with sister agencies throughout the state.
"By the grace of God and the valiant efforts of the command's officers and men, the success the command achieved in 2023 was achievable.
"The command continues to face obstacles, one of which is the requirement for operable vehicles in order to cover the state's thirty-one local government regions in an effective and efficient manner.
She stated, "Barracks are also necessary for the command to ensure the security of our officers."
According to Bassey, the command would step up its efforts to break up drug gangs in the state by 2024.
She declared that the command would intensify its advocacy and awareness efforts regarding the negative effects of drug misuse and trafficking in the state.
She gave inhabitants of Akwa Ibom assurances that the command was prepared to apprehend, prosecute, and convict perpetrators in order to act as a deterrence to others.
In order to guarantee that illegal drugs are eradicated from the state, she praised Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the NDLEA, for his assistance of the Akwa Ibom command and asked for more in the years to come. (NAN)
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