NDLEA Arrests 600 Suspects, Seizes 621kg Of Drugs In Bayelsa’s 2025 Crackdowns

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Bayelsa State has arrested 600 suspected drug offenders and seized a total of 621.55 kilogrammes of illicit substances between January and December 2025.

The State Commander, Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Yenagoa.

According to him, the suspects comprised 407 males and 193 females, and were arrested during undercover operations, motorised patrols, and raids on drug joints, hotels, bars, shops, and major transport routes linked to drug trafficking.

“During the year under review, the command carried out a series of undercover operations, patrols, and raids aimed at cutting down drug supply and reducing demand,” Chukwuemeka said.

He explained that the total weight of drugs seized stood at 621.556 kilogrammes, adding that the agency also confiscated 51,445 tablets and capsules, 658 injection ampoules, and 224 bottles of codeine containing psychotropic substances and opioids.

The commander noted that a mixture of cannabis sativa and alcohol—popularly known as monkey tail, koskorin, or wisdom wine—remained the most abused substance in the state.

“A combined mixture of cannabis sativa and alcohol measuring 435.055 litres and weighing 365.53 kilogrammes is the most prevalent substance abused in Bayelsa State in 2025,” he said.

Chukwuemeka revealed that youths aged between 21 and 25 years constituted the highest group of drug abusers, while the estimated street value of the seized drugs was put at over ₦64.7 million.

He added that Yenagoa recorded the highest number of arrests with 407 suspects, followed by Ogbia Local Government Area of the State with 79 arrests.

On prosecution, the NDLEA boss said 20 cases were filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, resulting in eight convictions, while three cases were struck out and one withdrawn.

He further disclosed that 621 persons were referred for counselling, 34 clients were successfully rehabilitated, and 671 drug integrity tests were conducted among students and other residents.

Lamenting the growing abuse of cannabis-alcohol mixtures, Chukwuemeka said more residents were failing drug integrity tests due to the trend.

“More Bayelsans are failing the Drug Integrity Test because of their abuse of cannabis sativa mixed with alcohol, popularly called monkey tail or koskorin,” he said.

He called on the Bayelsa State Government and other stakeholders to deepen collaboration with the anti-narcotics gency to curb substance abuse across the state.