The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Gombe State Command, has arrested 22 suspects and seized 77.99kg of illicit drugs in the last four months of its operations
Mr Aliyu Adole, the state commander, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe.
Adole said that the agency had expanded its operations to the rural communities in Dadin-Kowa of Yamaltu/Deba and Dukku Local Government Areas.
“Between July and October, we removed from circulation 77.99kg of substances and arrested 22 suspects from different areas as we expanded our operations to rural areas in the state.
“Because of this, we have been able to visit the different villages and settlements within that axis and removed from circulation drugs and some other local concoctions.
Adole, therefore, expressed appreciation to the residents of the area for their support and cooperation to the agency.
He said this had assisted the agency to discharge its duties accordingly.
According to him, all suspects have appeared in court alongside the outstanding 36 pending cases that included those that were arrested between January and June.
Adole said that the congestion was due to lack of enough judicial officials to prosecute them at the Federal High Court, Gombe.
He urged parents and guardians to continue to advise their children and wards to shun drug abuse.(NAN)