Between September and early October 2023, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bayelsa State Command, detained 27 alleged illicit drug dealers in various places around the state.
It also seized a total of 491.032 kilograms of illegal narcotics as part of the state’s War on Drugs effort.
The NDLEA state commander, Matthew Ewah, said this while briefing reporters at the command headquarters in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Tuesday. He said the 27 suspects were made up of 25 men and two women.
Cannabis sativa (1.048 kg), methamphetamine (0.01 kg), cocaine (0.006 kg), tramadol (1,054 tabs, 0.03 kg), Swinol (109 tabs, 0.015 kg), Diazepam injection (four ampoules), Diazepam (636 tabs, 0.551 kg), and codeine (4 1/2 bottles, 0.7kg) were among the illegal narcotics seized.
Ewah further stated that the command abandoned seizures of cannabis sativa (448.616 kg), tramadol (0.029 kilograms), Swinol (0.02kg), and methamphetamine (0.007kg).
According to him, the command discovered 19 rounds of live ammunition of 9mm caliber and 125 rounds of live ammunition cartridges, as well as robbery and rape suspects who were captured during operations and turned over to police for further investigation.
He said, “Top on the list is the seizure on the 27th September, 2023 of 432 kgs of cannabis sativa abandoned in a white Mercedes Benz J5 bus along SAIPEM Road Opolo, Yenagoa. The vehicle was also recovered from the scene for further investigation.
“It is important to note that the interception of 432 kgs of cannabis sativa is the single largest seizure in the history of Bayelsa State Command of the NDLEA. This seizure was made possible by credible intelligence and practiced profiling.
“Earlier today (Tuesday), our motorized patrol team seized and recovered 48kgs of cannabis sativa along the East-West Road.
“Also of note is the seizure of 19 RLA (rounds of live ammunition) 9mm caliber at Akenfa, Yenagoa, and another 125 rounds of live AAA cartridges at the SWALI Market Jetty on the 14th and 23rd of September, 2023 respectively. The Command also arrested armed robbery and rape suspects here in Okaka Estate on the 9th of September, 2023. The suspects and the ammunition have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.”
As the soldiers of the command monitored the highways, the NDLEA boss sought the understanding and cooperation of motorists and commuters.
He stated that the command was determined to make Bayelsa uninhabitable for drug traffickers and asked for help from well-meaning locals.
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