The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Bayelsa State arrested 600 suspected drug offenders and seized 621.55 kilogrammes of illicit substances between January and December 2025.
State Commander Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Yenagoa. The suspects comprised 407 males and 193 females, arrested during undercover operations, patrols, and raids of drug joints, hotels, bars, shops, and transport routes linked to drug trafficking.
“The command in the year under review embarked on a series of undercover operations, motorised patrols, and raids as efforts aimed at cutting down the supply and reducing the demand for drugs. The breakdown is as follows: number of male suspects — 407; number of female suspects — 193; total number of persons arrested — 600. The total weight of drugs seized is 621.556 kilogrammes,” Chukwuemeka said.
The agency also confiscated 51,445 tablets and capsules, 658 injection ampoules, and 224 bottles of codeine containing psychotropic substances and opioids.
Chukwuemeka noted that a combined mixture of cannabis sativa and alcohol, popularly known as monkey tail, koskorin, or wisdom wine, remained the most commonly 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 revealed.
Young people aged between 21 and 25 years formed the highest group of drug abusers, while the estimated street value of seized drugs stood at over N64.7 million. Yenagoa recorded the highest number of arrests with 407 suspects, followed by Ogbia Local Government Area with 79.
On prosecution, 20 cases were filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, resulting in eight convictions, while three were struck out and one withdrawn. The agency referred 621 persons for counselling, successfully rehabilitated 34 clients, and conducted 671 drug integrity tests for students and other residents.
Lamenting the rising abuse of cannabis mixtures, Chukwuemeka said, “More Bayelsans are failing the Drug Integrity Test due to their abuse of cannabis sativa mixed with alcohol, popularly known as monkey tail or koskorin.”
He called on the state government and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration with the agency to curb substance abuse across the state.
