Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jan 2008
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2008 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870

NDLEA ARRESTS 396 DRUG SUSPECTS

Katsina

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has  arrested 396
persons for various drugs offences in  Katsina State, last year.

The figure was given by the state's Commander of the  Agency, Alhaji
Hamisu Lawan, in an interview in  Katsina.

He said the suspects were promptly prosecuted, with 74  of them
sentenced to various jail terms by a Federal  High Court.

The commander, who said the trial of 25 other suspects  was on-going,
said 34 suspects, confirmed to be drug  addicts, were receiving
treatment at the state  reformatory centre in Katsina.

The other suspects, he said, were referred to the  counselling unit of
the command where they were  undergoing intensive counselling.

He also disclosed that the command seized a total of  4.494
kilogrammes of illicit drugs comprising cocaine,  marijuana and other
psychotropic substances within the  period under review.

Lawan disclosed that the seized drugs were destroyed  publicly in the
state capital last year.

According to him, two Indian hemp farms found to be  under cultivation
in Funtua Local

Government Area were also destroyed by NDLEA  operatives.

He said those who cultivated the farms were arrested  and charged to
court but did not disclose their number.

The commander commended the state government for  establishing the
reformatory centre in Katsina to complement the Agency's drug abuse
control effort.

He expressed satisfaction at the support the Agency was  enjoying from
the people and urged them to sustain the co-operation to make the
state drug-free.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath