The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Rivers state command has decried the fast spread in the use of methamphetamine known as “crystal meth” or “ice” in the State.
Announcing the development on Wednesday, the spokesman of the State Command, Emmanuel Ogbumgbada disclosed that users of the hard drug are arrested daily.
According to him, there is a need to fight the menace which he said is spreading like “wildfire” before it gets hard to tame.
Ogbumgbada disclosed that the drug was being imported from neighbouring states where private laboratories producing the drug have been discovered.
“The fact is that it is already here with us and it is spreading like wildfire, so, it is something we need to take very serious precaution. We need to fight it to stop it from going too far.
“These drugs we discovered come in from our neighbouring states. We have discovered a clandestine laboratory where meth is produced in Abia, Imo and Anambra States.
“We are yet to discover in Rivers State so we are fighting hard to ensure that it (the clandestine laboratory) does not come down here.
“For now, we don’t know whether it’s here already but we have been making arrest. On a daily basis, we arrest people using methamphetamine and that’s very dangerous,” he added.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that affects the central nervous system.
Findings reveal that the drug has side effects that can be severe in both short term and long term use, as damage may not be fully reversible.
Individuals who use the drug may suffer significant organ damage and even death.
