In Akwa Ibom, the NDLEA arrested 348 suspects and seized 460.34kg of illegal drugs in 2022.
The state's NDLEA Commander, Mrs Obot Bassey, informed reporters in Uyo on Wednesday that there had been 302 male and 46 female arrests.
231.377kg of Indian hemp, 2.611kg of cocaine, 0.919kg of heroin, 0.032kg of meth, 92.803kg of amphetamine, and 133.196kg of other psychoactive substances were among the illegal drugs seized, she continued.
According to her, the command also managed to get 58 drug dealers and users convicted in 2022, rehabbed 15 people, and counselled 265 others.
According to Bassey, the command also burned 2.786 tonnes of seized drugs in the open in 2022.
“Of spectacular notes were arrests and seizure of 90kg Amphetamine with a street value of N2.5 billion and 2.6kg of cocaine.
“The drugs would have done a lot of damage to families, communities and to the state if they had not been seized,’’ Bassey stressed.
She said Uyo Local Government Area recorded the highest rate of drug abuse out of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom.
It was closely followed by Ikot Ekpene and Itu Local Government Area.
Bassey said the NDLEA was in dire need of operational vehicles to effectively cover the 31 local government areas of the state; boats to patrol the waterways and residential barracks for the safety of personnel.
She appealed to multinational organisations, philanthropists and well-meaning individuals to join hands with the NDLEA to reduce drug abuse and trafficking to the barest minimum in the state.
“I am using this medium to tell Akwa Ibom people to look for substances that are not supposed to be consumed and keep the NDLEA posted on these substances.
“Residents should also report drug dealers and users to the NDLEA,’’ she said.
Bassey said the NDLEA was disturbed by the influx of a new drug, Fentanyl into the Nigerian market, as it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, heroin and codeine.
The commander warned drug peddlers and dealers in Akwa Ibom to give up the illicit business or face the full wrath of the law. (NAN)