The Commandant of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Plateau State Command, Dr. Anthonia Ngozi Madueke, says a total of 159.216 kilograms of psychotropic substances of dangerous drugs have been intercepted between January 2013 to August 2014 in the state.
Madueke told The Eagle Online that there was the need to educate and enlighten the youths on the danger of taking hard drugs.
She warned that the NDLEA would not spare anyone that engages in counterfeit drug activities, even as she said 15 years jail term or fine of N500,000 awaited anyone found wanting.
In view of the addictive nature of these substances, she said, the government through the NDLEA Decree 48 of 1989, now NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004, restricted the sale and dispensing of these classes of drugs to only authorized medical personnel.
Madueke added that it was pertinent to know that in the year 2013 ,104.267 kilograms of controlled drugs were intercepted .
She added: “With enormous responsibility for the coordination of all drug laws agencies, however, we have opted to embark on this strategy of enlightenment, sensitization, educating and dialogue to complement enforcement activities in Plateau.”
She stated that it is sad to note that these psycho tropic substances are freely obtained over the counter from patent medicine stores, while some of these drugs are not even sold in the original packs of the manufacturers but are dispensed, counted or measured out from containers.
Madueke lamented that many of the patent medicine dealers have also converted their shops into clinics where they treat patients and carry out minor surgeries such as abortion, thereby exposing the public to great danger.