Edo state seems fast becoming a hub for drug peddlers due to the high record of drug offenders apprehended and prosecuted by the NDLEA in the year 2015.
The Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested no fewer than 337 drug offenders and secured the conviction of 31 in 2015, its Commander, Mr Buba Wakawa, said.
Wakawa said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, in Benin that 261 of those arrested were male while 76 were female.
"We, however, charged 133 cases to court and secured the conviction of 31 offenders," he said.
Wakawa also disclosed that a total of 36,285 kilogrammes of Indian hemp and 41.2 grammes of cocaine were seized within the period under review. 19.2 grammes of substance suspected to be heroin and 2.14 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be psychotropic were also seized.
“We also destroyed 45,571 hectares of farmland with estimated quantity of exhibit destroyed put at 209,142 kilogrammes.
“The agency also impounded 15 vehicles and six motorcycles within the period, 2015,” he said.
Wakawa further said that 184 persons, comprising 140 male and 44 female, were counselled by the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the command during the period under review.