The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 123 persons for various drug offences, ranging from drug trafficking to owning drug farms, among others.
NDLEA state commander, Mr. Haruna Gagara, disclosed this on Monday while speaking with newsmen at an event to mark the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Akure, Ondo state capital.
According to him, the arrests were made between January and June this year at different locations in the state.
Gagara said: "From January to June, a total of 123 suspects comprising of 113 males and 10 females were arrested adding that eleven male among them have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms.
He, also said that a total seizure of 14,247.16kg of hard drugs and psychotropic substance comprising 13,916.158kg of cannabis sativa were made while 2.9gramms of cocaine, 3.2gramms of heroine, 8.65kg of tramadol and 333.75 litres of such skuchies, weighing 322.kg, were also made.
The NDLEA boss added that a total of four vehicles and two houses used in transportation and storage of the illicit drugs were seized, respectively.
These properties he said would be forfeited to the Federal Government in due course.
He noted that over 120 hectares of the illicit drug farms were destroyed within the period under review and that efforts were being made to destroy the rest before the criminals harvest them.
Gagara however lamented that the agency was facing series of challenges, particularly in the area of logistics, saying the development had been affecting the fight against drug and crime in the state.
He however urged the state government and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the agency in term of logistics and operational vehicles among others.