Rivers NDLEA Arrests 242 Suspected Drug Offenders In 6 Months

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said t arrested 242 suspected drug offenders in Rivers State between January and June 2026, securing 61 convictions and seizing more than 146 kilograms of illicit substances as it intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and abuse.

The Rivers State Commander of the NDLEA, Offor Kenneth Onyeso, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt during the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Onyeso said the command confiscated 146.181 kilograms of illicit substances within the six-month period, while 82 drug-related cases are currently pending before the Federal High Court.

He added that the command also focused on rehabilitation and treatment, counselling and releasing 69 drug users, while 23 others underwent rehabilitation at the NDLEA Rehabilitation Centre.

According to the state commander, poverty and family instability remain among the major factors fuelling drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Rivers State.

Onyeso said the agency’s operational strategy is built on two key pillars—supply reduction and demand reduction—to curb both the circulation of illicit drugs and the prevalence of drug abuse.

He noted that beyond enforcement operations, the command has intensified public sensitisation campaigns in schools, markets and other public places to educate residents on the dangers associated with drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The NDLEA commander, however, acknowledged that the agency continues to face operational challenges, stressing that the greatest impediment to the fight against illicit drugs is the reluctance of members of the public to provide timely and credible intelligence.

He urged residents to support the agency by volunteering useful information that would aid efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and reduce substance abuse across the state.