National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has raised the alarm on the rising involvement of women in the sale and consumption of Tramadol and other illicit drugs in the country.
Addressing newsmen on Saturday, ahead of this year’s United Nations international day against drug abuse and trafficking, the Kwara State Commander of the NDLEA, Ambrose Umoru, disclosed that out of the 195 suspects arrested this year, 49 of them were women.
“Some of the females were arrested in their provision stores and some others in their homes which they have turned into hideouts for sale of illicit drugs,” The Nation quoted Mr Umoru as saying.
“It is shocking that more women are getting involved in the sale of tramadol and codeine cough syrup.
“In coordinated operations carried out across the state from June last year to date, the command recorded total seizures of 5,880.94 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs; 380 suspects (304 males and 76 females) were arrested.
“A total of 138 persons that use drugs were counseled and reintegrated with their families. The command recorded eight convictions and 18cases are pending in court.
“Recent operation activities by the state have unraveled the uncontrollable desire to make money through illegal sale of banned tramadol tablets and cough syrup with codeine. Several arrests have been made not only in chemist shops but in provision and food item shops.”
Also speaking, Chairperson, Kwara state Drug Control Committee Barakat Olarewaju her committee between last quarter of 2019 and first quarter of this year, sensitized no fewer than 8,895 persons on the dangers inherent in drug abuse and sale of illicit drug.
Mrs. Olarewaju added that the committee carried out “advocacy programme to 12 traditional rulers in the state to enlist their support in the fight against the drug abuse epidemic.”
