The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has raised the alarm over the growing abuse of illicit substances among young adults in Bayelsa State, revealing that persons aged between 21 and 25 constitute the highest category of drug users arrested in the state.
The Bayelsa State Commander of the agency, Kanu Sunny Chukwuemeka, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Yenagoa.
He said the command arrested no fewer than 600 suspected drug offenders and seized 621.556 kilogrammes of assorted illicit substances between January and December 2025.
According to him, the suspects comprised 407 males and 193 females apprehended during a series of undercover operations, motorised patrols and coordinated raids of drug joints, hotels, bars, shops and transport routes identified as trafficking corridors.
“The command, in the year under review, embarked on a series of undercover operations, motorised patrols and raids aimed at cutting down supply and reducing the demand for drugs,” Chukwuemeka said.
Providing a breakdown, he stated, “Number of male suspects — 407; female suspects — 193; total number of persons arrested — 600. The total weight of drugs seized is 621.556 kilogrammes.”
The commander disclosed that 51,445 tablets and capsules, 658 injection ampoules and 224 bottles of codeine containing psychotropic substances and opioids were confiscated within the period.
He expressed particular concern over the widespread consumption of a cannabis-alcohol mixture popularly known as “monkey tail,” also called “koskorin” or “wisdom wine,” describing it as the most prevalent substance abused 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 said.
Chukwuemeka added that the estimated street value of the seized drugs was over N64.7m, underscoring what he described as the scale of trafficking and abuse within the oil-rich state.
Geographical analysis of the arrests showed that Yenagoa recorded the highest number with 407 suspects, followed by Ogbia Local Government Area with 79, reflecting what the agency termed heightened enforcement activities in those areas.
On prosecution, the NDLEA boss said 20 cases were filed at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, resulting in eight convictions, while three cases were struck out and one withdrawn.
Beyond enforcement, he said the agency intensified preventive and rehabilitative interventions, referring 621 persons for counselling, successfully rehabilitating 34 clients and conducting 671 drug integrity tests for students and other residents.
Lamenting the rising abuse of cannabis mixtures among youths, Chukwuemeka warned that the trend within the 21–25 age bracket considered one of the most productive segments of the population poses grave social and economic implications for the state.
“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 said.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to sustained enforcement and community-based sensitisation campaigns aimed at curbing drug abuse and trafficking across Bayelsa communities.
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