The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bayelsa State has reported the arrest of 600 suspected drug offenders and the seizure of 621.55 kilograms of illegal substances between January and December 2025.
The State Commander, Kanu Chukwuemeka, disclosed this on Wednesday during a briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Yenagoa. He said the suspects included 407 men and 193 women, apprehended through undercover operations, patrols, and raids of drug joints, hotels, bars, shops, and transport routes linked to drug trafficking.
Chukwuemeka stated that among the items seized were 51,445 tablets and capsules, 658 injection ampoules, and 224 bottles of codeine-containing psychotropic substances and opioids. He added that a mixture of cannabis sativa and alcohol, locally known as “monkey tail,” “koskorin,” or “wisdom wine,” remained the most commonly abused substance in the state, measuring 435.055 litres and weighing 365.53 kilograms.
He noted that young adults aged 21 to 25 were the largest group of drug abusers, with Yenagoa recording the highest number of arrests at 407, followed by Ogbia Local Government Area with 79. The estimated street value of the seized drugs was over N64.7 million.
On prosecutions, Chukwuemeka said 20 cases were filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, resulting in eight convictions, three cases struck out, and one withdrawn. He also revealed that 621 individuals were referred for counselling, 34 clients were successfully rehabilitated, and 671 drug integrity tests were conducted for students and residents.
The commander urged the state government and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration with the NDLEA to curb substance abuse, highlighting the rising abuse of cannabis-alcohol mixtures among Bayelsans.
