NDLEA arrests 13 drug traffickers in Boko Haram displaced persons’ camp

The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency said on Sunday it had arrested 13 drug traffickers in camps of Internally Displaced Persons.
The Commander of the agency, Ona Ogilegwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, that the agency seized assorted hard drugs from the suspects.
Ogilegwu said the suspects were arrested during five mop up activities in collaboration with the military in Bakassi camp in Maiduguri.
He said the operations were testimonies to the fact that the camps were not immune from criminal culpability.
He said: “The raids were conducted in the early hours with the military.
“Thirteen dealers were arrested with assorted hard drugs in the camp.
“We have been receiving reports that these nefarious activities are taking place in the camps.
“It is unfortunate that these are people who are effected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
“Instead on focussing on getting their lives back, they are busy trying to deteriorate their conditions.
“We are assuring the general public that the command will not condone any act of criminality and those arrested will surely face the wrath of the law.”
Ogilegwu said the agency would intensify its raids in all the camps to get rid of criminals, particularly drug peddlers.
Also on Sunday, the NDLEA in Borno said it arrested 56 suspected drug traffickers and seized 4.96 tonnes suspected illicit drugs between January and December 2015.
Ogilegwu said the suspects were arrested during raids and mop-ups conducted by men of the agency within the state capital.
He said substances as cannabis, rephenol, cough syrup, diazepam, cocaine and heroin, were seized from the suspects.
The NDLEA commander said the command had secured 12 convictions and counselled 39 suspects, while 17 others were awaiting trial.
He said: “This year alone, NDLEA has arrested 50 suspects with about 258kg of illicit substances, which included 194kg of cannabis, 64kg of psychotropic substances and 1.7kg of heroin.
“Just this month, two notorious drug traffickers, who were arrested with 2.6 tonnes of Indian hemp from Delta State, were sentenced to eight-year jail terms without option of fine.
“We commend the Federal High Court for giving the NDLEA the full support to prosecute these criminals.”
According to Ogilegwu, the judgment will not only boost the morale of the men of the command, but would further deter other barons from their nefarious activities.
He said: “The NDLEA is determined to fight illicit drug users.
“Our men remain vigilant to fish out all illicit drug dealers in the state.”
NAN.