By Our Reporter
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported significant strides in its fight against drug trafficking and abuse in Cross River State, seizing over six tons of drugs and arresting over 200 people within six months.
Reviewing its activities from November 2025 to April 2026 in Cross River, the NDLEA State Command disclosed that a total of 216 suspects were arrested, including 170 males and 46 females. Within the same period, operatives confiscated a wide range of illicit substances, with cannabis sativa accounting for the bulk at over 5,800 kilogrammes.
Other substances seized include cannabis seeds, psychotropic drugs, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis tincture. In total, the agency recovered 6008.9771 kilogrammes of drugs alongside 16.2 litres of liquid substances.
In a major operation, the Command destroyed six hectares of cannabis farms across the state. The NDLEA estimated that about 15 tons of fresh cannabis valued at over 500 million naira were destroyed, while an additional 119 kilogrammes of processed cannabis were recovered from the sites.
Legal actions also formed a key part of the agency’s efforts. The Command secured 21 convictions, while 94 cases remain pending and 24 new cases were filed within the review period. Notably, one accused person was discharged and acquitted, while a fundamental human rights case challenging the agency’s stop and search operations was dismissed in its favour. The Command also recorded victory at the Court of Appeal, where a prior High Court judgement supporting its actions was upheld.
Beyond enforcement, the agency intensified its drug demand reduction initiatives. A total of 87 sensitisation campaigns were carried out, reaching 153,983 individuals made up of 85,816 females and 68,167 males. The agency also provided counselling and rehabilitation services to 119 persons. In addition, 54 drug integrity tests were conducted, with 37 returning positive results and 17 negative.
Despite these achievements, the Command identified several challenges hindering its operations, including inadequate funding, shortage of operational vehicles, reluctance of the public to provide useful information and limited community involvement in the anti-drug campaign.
Nevertheless, the agency noted improvements within its operations, including upgrades to its facilities and the installation of sporting amenities to enhance staff wellbeing. Increased community engagement has also been recorded, with more than four communities requesting intervention programmes. The Command further strengthened collaboration with sister agencies and ministries, including joint operations with the Nigerian Army 13 Brigade.
The NDLEA stated that while it has made measurable progress within the period under review, it remains committed to intensifying its efforts in the coming months to achieve even greater results in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
