The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Bayelsa State Command, says it has arrested a serving military personnel and six other persons for dealing in illegal drugs, including cocaine.

The agency’s Superintendent of Narcotics, Mr. Osakwe Ikenna, said on Thursday that the suspects were apprehended in various parts of the state in the last one week.

He also said over 32kg of various types of drug exhibits had been seized and removed from circulation.

Osakwe said among the suspects arrested was an unnamed 35-year-old serving military personnel.

He said, “The military personnel was arrested by operatives from the State Command on motorised patrol along the East-West Road while ferrying a 30kg of dried weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.

“He was coming from Delta State area en route Rivers State before he was nabbed.”

Other suspects, according to him, include Christian Ayebakuro, male, 34, and Peter Johnson, 24, among others.

Osakwe said Ayebakuro was arrested in possession of two kilogrammes of dried weeds suspected to be Cannabis  Sativa.

He said Johnson was arrested in possession of various quantities and types of drugs, comprising heroine, cocaine and cannabis.

He warned all drug traffickers and dealers to desist from the illicit business, saying whatever guise or guile they employed to beat the agency’s prying eyes would be thwarted.

While promising that offenders would be made to face the full wrath of the law, Osakwe advised residents to keep watchful eyes on the activities of their children and wards.

He said, “All residents of the state are advised to keep watchful eyes on the activities of their children and wards to ensure that they are not inadvertently lured into illicit drug activities.

“They are also advised to be vigilant of the activities in their immediate environment and ensure that all illegal drug activities are reported to the State Command for expeditious action.”