The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Adamawa, on Monday said that it had arrested 21 suspects in possession of illicit substances weighing 60.99 kg in August.

The NDLEA Commander in Adamawa, Mr Idris Bello, made this known while addressing newsmen in Yola.

According to him, the suspects comprised 18 males and three females.

“It may interest you to note that even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the drug dealers have not had a rethink in their nefarious activities.

“As a result, 21 suspects comprising 18 males and three females were arrested with 60.99 kg of illicit drugs within the month of August, 2020.

“The most disheartening revelation in the course of our raids is the recurring demography of the arrested suspects for the past months.

“They are between 18 to 50 years age bracket, which falls within the nation’s workforce population,” Bello said.

The commander noted that the nation would be having a deficit if the potential of the demography could not be harnessed in the development of the country.

According to him, there are seven drug clients, all males within the age range of 17 and 48, undergoing counselling and rehabilitation for substance abuse in the State Command’s Drug Demand Reduction facility.

He said that the agency had over the years known that young peoples’ attitude toward drug trafficking and abuse required special attention.

“The Command is taking Drug Abuse Prevention Education (DAPE) to all nooks and crannies of the state, targeting the most vulnerable population.

“The Command thanked the state government for giving necessary impetus and logistics to the agency as well as other sister agencies, for their immense support,” Bello said.