NDLEA arrests 312 suspects, seizes 803.672kg between May, June

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 312 suspects and seized 803.672 kg of hard drugs between June 2024 and May 2025 in Akwa Ibom State.

Mrs Obot Bassey, Akwa Ibom State Commander of the NDLEA, said this during a press conference commemorating the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Uyo on Tuesday.

The 2025 International Free Day theme is: “The Evidence Is Clear: Invest in Prevention, #Break the Circle.”

The commander said the theme was a shift from reaction to prevention and, based on strategies, not on guesswork, but on data, research, and evidence.

Bassey said that out of the 312 suspects arrested, 261 were males and 51 were females. He added that 38 drug offenders were also prosecuted and convicted within the period.

The commander said that the Command has treated and rehabilitated 43 male drug-dependent persons, and also carried out drug abuse prevention education at 91 locations across the state.

“From June 2024 to May 2025, we have arrested 312 suspects, made up of 261 males and 51 females, and we have seized 803.672 kg of drugs.

“We have prosecuted and convicted 38 drug offenders, and we have carried out drug addiction prevention at 91 locations across Akwa Ibom state, and we have rehabilitated 43 males and counselled 179 persons,” Bassey said.

Bassey said that drug abuse was not just a criminal issue but a public health issue, stressing that prevention is a shared responsibility.

She called on parents, educators, religious leaders and community members to join hands in creating a supportive environment that fosters healthy lifestyles and deters drug use.

The Akwa Ibom drug law enforcement commander said, apart from enforcing the laws, they also ensure the protection of the future of Nigerian children.

Bassey reminded the youth that drugs negatively impact people’s health and their well-being in society.

She called on the government, philanthropists, individuals and institutions to invest massively in drug use preventive measures.

The commander commended the state government for its support and appealed for logistics vehicles to the command to enable them to move across the 31 local government areas.

The commander said that this year’s theme calls for the continuation of sustained investment in prevention.

She thanked sister security agencies in the state for their collaboration and cooperation to ensure a drug-free society.