Pic: Commander Charles Onubogu
By Chinedum Treasure
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Anambra State Command, has intensified its war against illicit drugs, arresting 559 suspects and securing 128 convictions within the last 11 months.
The State Commander, Charles Onubogu, disclosed this in Awka during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26.
559 Arrested, 1.8 Tonnes of Drugs Seized
According to Onubogu, the arrests involved 475 males and 84 females apprehended for various drug-related offences across the state.
He revealed that the command also recovered about 1.8 tonnes of assorted illicit substances, including cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis, during the period under review.
“Since I came into the command about 11 months ago, we have made seizures of more than a tonne of different categories of drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.
“In all, about 1.8 tonnes of illicit substances have been recovered,” he said.
102 Drug Users Rehabilitated
The commander further disclosed that 102 persons battling substance abuse were rehabilitated within the same period, comprising 99 males and three females.
He noted that many of the recovering clients were enrolled in vocational skills acquisition programmes such as soap-making and tailoring to aid their reintegration into society.
The command, he added, also provided counselling and other intervention services to several drug users.
Drug Users Need Help, Not Stigmatization
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to tackling both the supply and demand sides of the drug problem, Onubogu stressed that NDLEA does not regard drug users as criminals.
“What we’re mainly after are drug dealers. People who use drugs have problems and we need to help them. They are taken through intervention and counselling programmes to guide them on how to stay off drugs,” he said.
Commander Calls for Collective Action
Speaking on this year’s theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persistent Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” Onubogu emphasized the need for collective action in combating drug abuse and trafficking.
“The fight against drug abuse and trafficking can’t be left to the NDLEA alone. All hands must be on deck to battle the scourge.
“The media, civil society organisations and the public should use their various platforms to spread the message against drug abuse and reduce the menace in society,” he added.
He also announced plans for a road walk and other awareness activities to commemorate the global anti-drug campaign in Anambra State.
Tags: NDLEA, Anambra, Drug Abuse, Crime, Charles Onubogu
