NDLEA Arrest 222 Suspects, Seizes 1.9 Million Kg Of Illicit Drugs In Abia

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, has confiscated approximately 1.94 million kilograms of illegal drugs and apprehended 222 individuals over the course of one year.

During a briefing with journalists in Aba, held in conjunction with the week-long events to observe the ‘2025 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse’ scheduled for 26th June 2025, the Acting Commander of NDLEA, Abia Command, Chigbu Odoemelam Chilee, indicated that despite the significant seizures and arrests, the command has heightened efforts to combat the use and distribution of illegal drugs.

Naijaonpoint reports that Chilee further revealed that Aba is the sole rehabilitation centre operated by the agency in Abia. He also mentioned that Governor Alex Otti has provided a vehicle for the agency and allocated resources for an additional centre in Umuahia, which is expected to be operational in a few months.

He emphasised that the issue of illegal drugs in Abia is critical, noting that the volume of arrests, seizures, and individuals seeking rehabilitation underscores the substantial challenge the state faces regarding drug abuse and trafficking.

He said, “For the past one year, we have seized one million and ninety-four kilograms of illicit drugs.”

These drugs include cannabis, sativa, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, diazepam, codeine, etc.

The most prevalent here is methamphetamine, which is known as mkpurummiri, in our local parlance.

“We also arrested two hundred and twenty-two suspects in one year here. We fight the anti-drug war in two phases: one is supply reduction, and the other is demand reduction. In supply reduction, I have given you the statistics on seizures.

“However, in demand reduction, we are talking about sensitisation and rehabilitation. In rehabilitation, Abia Command of the NDLEA has one of the best facilities considering the number of clients and the records available,” Chilee noted.

The Acting Commander additionally mentioned that Aba and Umuahia are the primary hotspots for illegal drug activities in Abia State.

He guaranteed that the NDLEA Abia has area commands that also encompass the rural regions and the 17 council areas of the state, as the agency is making every effort to address the use and distribution of illegal drugs in the state.

Chilee further revealed that there is a higher number of males than females in the drug rehabilitation centre, emphasising that these statistics do not imply that women are not engaged in drug abuse.

“There may be some issues that may have made it difficult for them to approach rehabilitation, which may be cultural, stigmatisation or even religious and otherwise,” he said.

Chilee added that the United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is marked globally and a week-long programme that started on the 19th of June, which began with sensitisation in some notable places, has been ongoing.

“Lots of events were marked to commemorate this programme, which started with a walk against Drug Trafficking at the state capital, Umuahia.

“The second day, we had a sensitization programme at the mosque where the Imam preached the same message. We did the same thing at the church, Christ Embassy Aba, on the third day.

“We had a novelty match yesterday between our officers and some clients in our rehabilitation centre. And today, it’s about the press,” the NDLEA boss added.

Stressing that NDLEA cannot fight the drug war alone, the Commander urged society to collaborate with the agency to reduce the level of use of illicit drugs.

Chilee said: “After the programme, there will be lots of work by the State Drug Committee that was recently inaugurated in Umuahia to ensure that there is a serious reduction in using illicit drugs in Abia.

“We urge Abia people to trust us and our leadership from the national headquarters, where the leadership is showing Nigeria a huge change in this fight.

“Here, we urge them to expect a reinvigorated operation strategies that will help make this place uncomfortable for illicit drug dealers.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Ikechukwu Akunne, said the 2025 United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with the theme: “The Evidence is Clear, Invest In Prevention”, will take place at the Police Officers’ Mess.