The Kwara state command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested seventeen suspects with assorted hard drugs in different parts of the state.
The state Commander of NDLEA, Mr Ona Ogilegwu said this in an interview in his office in Ilorin. He urged the federal government to fast track the bill banning production and distribution of affected drugs.
According to him, "13 suspects were arrested at various locations by the Air Force authority in Ilorin and transfered to the command with assorted hard drugs"
He added that on Saturday, the command arrested another two suspects with twelve cartons of codeine, containing 600 bottles of the product.
Ogilegwu said the two suspects were in the taxi trying to travel to the north with the drug before his men intercepted the car and while checking, the twelve cartons of the codeine were discovered.
"On interrogation, they confessed that they were travelling to Kaduna with the drugs to deliver them to one man, and that they have been involved on making good money from the business since a very long time," he said.
Ogeilegwu also said that on Tuesday, another two suspects were arrested along Tanke area of Ilorin by his officers.
According to him, "Surveillance was placed in the area following a tip-off, my men swung into action and the two suspects were promptly arrested. They are presently undergoing investigation."
The NDLEA commander therefore charged all drug sellers and producers in the state to abide by directives to submit ban drugs in their possession, adding that failure to so will lead to their arrest.
He also said that other assorted drugs such as Tramadol among others should be placed on poisoned box by pharmacists and should be sold strictly on medical doctor’s recommendation.
"Any other vendor found selling drugs aside licensed pharmacists will face the full wrath of the law when arrested," he warned.