The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Oyo State Command, apprehended 546 suspects over alleged dealing in illicit drugs between January and December 2024.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Olayinka Joe-Fadile, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan on the successes recorded by the Command in the year under review.
Joe-Fadile said that the suspects arrested comprised of 449 males and 97 females who were between ages 12 years and 80 years.
The commander said that while some of the suspects were allegedly found in possession narcotics, others were interdicted for dealing in cannabis sativa, tramadol, cake mixed with cannabis sativa, cocaine, pentazocine injection among others.
He said that a total number of 66 cases were charged to court while 46 convictions were secured by the command during the year under review.
Joe-Fadile said that the command recorded a total seizure of 10,444.538kg of Cannabis sativa and other psychotropic substances during the period under review.
“The command destroyed a total of 1.420093 hectares of cannabis sativa farmland at Iyalode and Ogunmakin villages in Akinyele LGA, which put the total cannabis destroyed to 3,550.2kg.
“The command also recovered one pistol with two magazines, one locally fabricated single barrel gun and 20 live cartridges and other ammunition.
“The command rehabilitated 18 persons who were integrated back to the society and counseled 144 persons during the period,” he said.
Joe-Fadile said that the command would continue to sensitise the public to dangers of illicit drug trafficking in order to make the state drug free.
He commended people of the state for their support and solicited for their continued cooperation to make the state better and crime free.