The Imo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested 165 suspects between the ages of 17 and 35 for dealing in drugs from January till now.

UGAMATV gathered that 145 of the suspects were male, while 20 were female.

It was learnt that the command also seized 959.677 kilograms of hard drugs, including cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, diazepam and tramadol, among others.

Speaking in Owerri on Tuesday, the state Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Nse Inam, stated that methamphetamine, locally known as mkpuru mmiri, was being abused on an increasing level.

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He said the command successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of 24 persons in the period under review, adding that many cases were still ongoing in court.

“The Imo State Command of the NDLEA counselled 97 drug users arrested during an operation. It also rehabilitated three drug addicts, while two are presently in our facility for the same purpose,” he stated.

Inam, who has just been promoted to Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, further said in spite of COVID-19 pandemic, the command carried out public enlightenment and sensitisation programmes in the state.