The Commander of
the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano State, Sumaila
Ethan has said that the agency has arrested 160 drug suspects and
impounded six vehicles allegedly used in conveying hard drugs into the
ancient city.
Mr Ethan revealed
that the feat was recorded in the past two months, saying that the
seized hard drugs include: cannabis sativa, Indian Hemp, weighing
1,119.766kg, psychotropic substances, weighing 9.293kg, cocaine,
weighing 633gm, and heroine, weighing 456.4gms.
He said that 86
suspects have been convicted, adding that 191 drug addicts were
counselled and rehabilitated in the last eight weeks.
Several arrests
Mr Ethan said in
the month of March alone, five drug peddlers were apprehended by
officers and men of the agency, with various assorted drugs weighing
389.946kg.
He said one
Stephen Mogekwu, male, 30, and 21-year old Toyin Ojo, female, were
arrested with 61kg of dried weeds, suspected to be cannabis sativa,
after they had an accident with their Jetta car, on Independence Road,
Kano, as they were trying to escape arrest.
He said Mrs Ojo
sustained bone fracture on both legs, while Mr Mogekwu had leg and back
injuries in the accident, which occurred as a result of reckless
driving.
He disclosed that
one Nura Mohammed, 42, who hails from Kano State, was arrested in
Na’ibawa Quarters of Kano, with 175kg of dried weeds, suspected to be
Indian Hemp, concealed inside an Honda Concerto Saloon car. Similarly,
Raphael Ayeni, 23, and Okonobi Precious, 30, were arrested along
Murtala Mohammed Way, Kano, with 82kg of Indian Hemp while Emmanuel
Umezurike, 38, was arrested with 8.5kg of dried weeds, suspected to be
cannabis sativa along Maiduguri Road.
Mr Ethan reiterated the determination of the agency to rid Kano of the menace of illicit drug trafficking this year.
