The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Plateau Command on Tuesday said it had seized 1,316 kilogrammes of hard drugs in the first half of 2016.

Plateau NDLEA Commandant, Ngozi Maduine revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

Maduine said the command also secured the conviction of 65 suspects for drug offences during the period.

A total of 151 suspects, mostly youths and comprising 140 males and 11 females were arrested for trafficking in cocaine and cannabis sativa in the first half of the year, according to her.

She said that the convicts were serving various jail terms.

She registered her fear on the alarming increase of drugs abuse among the youths while stating that they affect the brain, thereby producing effects such as sedation, stimulation and change in mood or behaviour.

The commandant said that the Agency had successfully rehabilitated 39 drug-dependent persons in the state during the period.

She also said that the command had embarked on intensive drug abuse awareness and sensitisation programme against drugs usage.

“The command has chosen to tackle the menace of drug abuse by ensuring that there is a demand and supply reduction.

“This is in consonance with the theory of demand and supply which states that without demand there would not be supply,” she said.

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NDLEA arrests 151 drugs trafficking suspects