The Cross River State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of 274 suspected drug dealers in 2024 and the seizure of 788.8 kilograms of hard drugs during the year.
Speaking in Calabar on Friday, the state commandant, Rachael Umebuali, highlighted the agency’s achievements, including securing 38 convictions from court cases filed within the period.
She also revealed that a Toyota Previa bus was forfeited to the Nigerian government as part of the agency’s enforcement efforts.
The confiscated substances included cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, with Umebuali noting that the quantity seized in 2024 surpassed the figures recorded in the previous year.
Expressing concern over the growing prevalence of drug abuse among young people, she stated that vehicles and motorbikes were commonly used by traffickers to transport banned substances.
“Our operations are hampered primarily by inadequate operational vehicles, inaccessible and bad roads, especially during the rainy season, cultism and communal crisis,” she said.
Umebuali further outlined additional obstacles, such as limited funding, strained inter-agency cooperation, internal and external sabotage, and a lack of community support in providing critical information.
She appealed for more operational resources, including vehicles and logistical support, to enhance the command’s ability to combat drug trafficking effectively in the state.
Despite these challenges, the NDLEA in Cross River has made significant strides in its efforts to curb drug-related crimes, but the commandant stressed the need for greater collaboration between the agency, communities, and other stakeholders to sustain and improve its success.
