By Eric Ugbor

ABA—THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Commander in Abia, Mr Bamdele Akingbade, has said the command successfully prosecuted 22 drug suspects in the last three months.

Akingbade disclosed this during an interview with newsmen in his office in Aba.

He said that among the 22 convicts, four were given an option of fine while 18 were put away in jail to serve between six  months and five- year terms.

The commander said that 69 drug suspects were arrested within the period with suspected psycho-tropic substances consisting of cocaine, heroin and Indian hemp weighing a total of about 161.282 kgs.

He said that the accused persons were convicted after a successful trial at the Umuahia Federal High Court.

“However, we have noticed with dismay the involvement of hotels especially in Aba as the base for drug couriers. We are currently working on a project with hoteliers to sensitize them on the need  to cooperate with the NDLEA.

“This is because, apart from the 147 kg of cannabis seized in one of the hotels in Aba, the command raided another hotel in Aba which resulted in the arrest of eight boys suspected to be cultists or kidnappers on October 6, 2015.”