The command’s operatives also raided three communities: Abbi, Ogume and Kwale where they recovered and destroyed 60 bags of Indian hemp including other illicit drugs.
NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr. Dennis Obiefule, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Ogwashi-Uku near Asaba on Monday, commended the state government for having most functional state drug control committee in the South-South region in the country, stressing that despite efforts by the agency, the fight against drug abuse requires a holistic approach.
He disclosed that the past year prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria was estimated at 14.4 per cent, representing 14.3 million people, between the ages of 15 and 64 as compared to the global prevalence of 5.6 per cent among the adult population.
Obiefule stated that current assessment indicated that the addiction to illicit drugs pervades ethnicity, social groups, and gender.
The NDLEA boss further disclosed that the 21 arrested suspects would be prosecuted according to the law, adding that the command will continue to do its best possible with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of illicit and hard drugs are brought to book.
He said: “The arrested suspects were picked in their farmlands where they cultivate Indian hemp in large quantities during raid to three communities in the state. Investigation is ongoing, and the command will prosecute them according to the law.
“The Command’s operatives also recovered 60 bags of Indian hemp in the three communities raided and destroyed them. We call on members of the public to always provide us with useful information that will lead to the arrest of illicit drug perpetrators.”
