In the past 11 months, the Anambra State division of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended 559 individuals on drug-related charges and facilitated the rehabilitation of 102 people. State Commander Charles Onubogu shared these figures during a media briefing in Awka, noting that the group included 475 men and 84 women, with cannabis and cocaine being the primary substances seized.
Regarding rehabilitation, 102 users received treatment, while 20 people participated in vocational training programs—such as tailoring and soap production—at the agency’s Onitsha-based facility. The commander highlighted that 128 convictions have been secured during this period. Onubogu clarified that the agency differentiates between traffickers and users, focusing enforcement efforts on suppliers while offering counseling and support to those struggling with addiction.
The agency utilizes a dual-track strategy focused on reducing both the availability of narcotics and the public demand for them. Commander Onubogu emphasized that the eradication of drug abuse is a shared societal responsibility, urging community collaboration to effectively curb the rising trend of substance misuse.
