“Political thugs use hard drugs to enable them to commit electoral violence, therefore, we will not allow drugs to determine the actions and activities during the general elections in the state,” he said.

He, therefore, warned illicit drug abusers, peddlers and barons, to stay clear of the state as the agency would go tough on them.

“We want to sound a note of warning to all illicit drug users, peddlers and barons in Niger state to desist from the unwholesome practices.

“We want to tell them that we will go after them until we arrest and prosecute them,” the NDLEA commander added.

Kwetishe told NAN that in 2022 the command received two awards from the national headquarters of the agency as the best in drug demand reduction.