The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Bayelsa State Command, said on Wednesday that it had arrested 70 suspects for allegedly trafficking in illegal drugs in the state in the first half of 2015.

The agency’s state commander, Josephine Obi, who made this disclosure in Yenagoa said nine of the suspects are female.

Obi complained that the consumption of illegal substances like cannabis in the state was becoming very worrisome, adding that the agency was living up to its task as it had secured 18 convictions in the first quarter of 2015.

“Over 55.6 grammes of cocaine were seized, 4.3 grammes of heroin, 97.233 kilogrammes of Cannabis Sativa and 1.463.2 kilograms of psychotropic substances were recovered from suspects,” Obi said.

She assured the public that there would be no sacred cow in the onslaught against drug couriers in the state.

She also said that the agency was employing a prudent legal framework and sensitization strategies to prosecute the war on drugs.

“NDLEA is working according to the law and we are only arresting suspects. As a way of reducing the circulation of illicit drugs in the state, we are also embarking on counseling of would-be suspects, creating public awareness on dangers of hard drugs, organizing lectures in localities and schools,” she said.