Cocaine, Cannabis And Psycho Seized In Borno

By Ibrahim-Gwamna Mshelizza

The Chairman, Borno state drug abuse control committee who is also the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan has said that, there are over 1000 illegal routes through which drugs come in and out of the state that are not known to authorities, adding that, the drug dealers also are constantly changing strategy to beat security checks but that government is now using information, which has been very helpful in tracking and arresting them.

Barrister Kaka Shehu stated this in a chat with the press on Tuesday, in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital while speaking on the achievements of the committee for 2013 and their plans for 2014 at the headquarters of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency along Ngamboru road.

He said that, one of the factors that immensely contributed in the emergence of insurgency activities in the state is partly attributable to drugs abuse related activities, as such, the activities of the committee are part of the panacea models and health safety networks introduced by the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima to restore the state on the path of peace, tranquility and socio-economic development.

"Through its intelligence gathering and operations the sub-committees carried out raids in areas identified as black spots within the Maiduguri metropolis where such illicit drugs are commonly dispensed and consumed. The raids accounted for several arrests as well as seizures of drugs from the suspects.” He said.

The Chairman said, the total seizure of drugs stands at 6,089.575kg, which includes: 4,780.565 kg of Cannabis, 979,010 kg of Psycho and 330.000 kg of Cocaine, while 61 suspects were arrested and 13 charged to court and convicted to various jail terms.

He said another suspect by name Yahaya Usman was arrested with mixed substance of Cocaine weighing 230 kg as well as a Pastor by name Moses Edon Fawale who was arrested with illicit drugs weighing 1,959 kg.

“The committee also following a tip off arrested the duo of Sunday Adebayo and Abu Imah at Jimtilo village on the outskirt of Maiduguri, with a large quantity of Indian hemp weighing 2,747.58 kg. The arrest resulted in the temporary forfeiture of a long lorry truck and a warehouse with 4 flat of two-bedrooms each along the Pompomari Industrial layout, which is used by the suspects as warehouse to stock their illicit drugs brought into the state.” The chairman said.

He said the committee also counsel 42 people who were indirectly linked with drug businesses and are arrested and freed after interrogation.