NDLEA apprehends 366 traffickers, seizes 1,560.97kg of hard drugs in Enugu
By Samuel Eugene
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended 366 suspected traffickers and seized 1,560.97kg (1.56 tonnes) of hard drugs in Enugu State in 2024.
The Commander of NDLEA, Enugu State Command, Abel Wadahi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Enugu.
Wadahi said that 324 males and 42 females were apprehended in the period under review, while a total of 39 male suspects were convicted at the Federal High Court, Enugu.
He said that 124 cases are still pending, while 118 cases filed at the Federal High Court, Enugu were at various stages of trial.
The NDLEA commander listed the categories of drugs seized to include cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa (hemp) and methamphetamine, locally known as Mkpurumiri among others.
Wadahi further explained that 11 vehicles and 24 motorcycles were forfeited in 2024; while in 2025 four vehicles and two motorcycles had been seized and awaiting court ruling on its application for interim forfeiture.
“In the year 2024, NDLEA Enugu State Command successfully counseled, treated and rehabilitated 335 individuals in our small rehabilitation facility.
“We look forward to doing more once we have the new rehabilitation centre,” he said.
The commander added that in 2024, it embarked on 109 sensitisation and awareness programmes targeted at young people in and out of schools, motor parks, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
He said that through the sensitisation and awareness programmes the Agency reached out to a total of 47,651 people; comprised of 23,643 males and 24,008 females within the state.
“This is in addition to the thousands of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse messages through our aggressive and impactful media campaign using various traditional and new media platforms,” he said.
Wadahi,urged members of the public to show empathy for those undergoing treatment, saying that would help them immensely in their rehabilitation process.
According to him, NDLEA has invested resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, and will not relent in its effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks.
He said: “When you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and sundry criminals, who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities’’.
The commander, therefore, appreciated the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired)) and Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for their support, encouragement and response to the needs of the command.
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