The NDLEA has destroyed at least 560,000kg of illicit drugs in Lagos.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has, in what could be described as the largest in the 32-year-old history of the anti-narcotic agency, 500,000 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs on August 3rd, 2022. Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier. General Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the exercise is a strong message to drug barons and cartels that they will continue to lose their huge investments in the criminal trade if they fail to quit and look for other legitimate businesses.
The illicit substances burnt at a brief ceremony in the Badagry area of Lagos included approximately 7400kg of cocaine, 161,000kg of heroin, 1100kg of methamphetamines’, 60,000kg of ephedrine, 311,000kg of cannabis sativa, 10,000kg of khat, 273,000kg of tramadol and 8,207kg of other psychotropic substances. These substances were seized by the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos State Command, and the Seme Special Area Command from persons whom have been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court as well as from abandoned seizures.
“We have arrested over 17,500 drug offenders since 2021.”
At the ceremony, Marwa said, “It is gratifying to know that our drug law enforcement efforts are not in vain. Our efforts not only resulted in the seizure of the aforementioned drugs but also culminated in the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the offenders in court. Since January 2021, we have arrested over 17,500 drug offenders of which over 2300 have been convicted in court. In the process, we have seized over 3.5 million kilos of assorted drugs. The business of today is yet another indication that officers and men of NDLEA are not relenting in the pursuit of the Agency’s mandate to make Nigeria safe from the drug scourge.”
“I stand here today before you to give the assurance that NDLEA will continue to explore various ways, legal and within the ambit of orthodox drug law enforcement, to address the drug problem in the country. And there is no better time than now to adopt evidence-based programs and policies to counter the destructive impact of the drug scourge, which has pervaded our society in the past few years.” He assured that the Agency will not only focus on drug supply reduction. He said, “We are equally broadening our drug demand reduction efforts, and especially working hard on drug use prevention programs. Among other measures, we are reaching out to young people through prevention messages on our social media platforms. We are not oblivious of the fact that some teenagers and young adults are exposed to drugs at a very young age, particularly in deprived circumstances.”
Marwa says NDLEA strives to align with international best practices.
He continued, “The agency is working with other institutions to provide educational opportunities, vocational skills training and other socio-economic support for this vulnerable group. In everything we do, we strive to align our efforts with international best practices. Only a few weeks ago, NDLEA launched a 24/7 toll-free call center for people who are drug-dependent or suffering from drug use disorders, their families, employers of labor, and members of the public who need any form of help. The center, which has a team of dedicated, well-trained professionals in mental health practices including psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists and counsellors, currently receives calls in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo languages.”
The general commended the officers and members of the agency for their commitment, and also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his political will in tackling the drug menace. “We equally appreciate the contribution of our local and international partners, who are instrumental to the successes we have recorded. We also thank members of society who are working with us to safeguard the health of our communities. I urge all stakeholders in this campaign against abuse and trafficking of illicit substances to not relent but intensify support for NDLEA.”
Agency will devise new ways to tackle drug menace.
“On our part, we will continue to identify new approaches and expand our scope of operations to ensure that our communities, states and country are safe, healthy, and secure.” The head of NDLEA had earlier alongside his top officials paid a courtesy visit to the Akran of Badagry, Oba De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Toyi 1, who he implored to set up a drug control committee in his kingdom as part of efforts to support the war against drug abuse in the country.
Related Links
NDLEA: Website
The content on AskNigeria.com is given for general information only and does not constitute a professional opinion, and users should seek their own legal/professional advice. There is data available online that lists details, facts and further information not listed in this post, please complete your own investigation into these matters and reach your own conclusion. AskNigeria.com accepts no responsibility for losses from any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of content contained in this website and/or other websites which may be linked to this website.
Fact Checking Tool – Snopes.com
This engagement in drug trafficking needs to stop. People should be sensitized about the danger of this crime. We need to stamp out feet and clamp on the excessiveness of this societal issue. Kudos to NDLEA with the amount of work they have been doing to ensure that drug abuse and drug peddling is stopped.
Buba Marwa has always shown himself a a good person since his inception as Lagos State governor so I’m not surprised at how impressive the NDLEA had been under him thy have been so proactive in terms of arresting drug traffickers even the so called big boys in this trade have been dealt with a d more to come…thumbs up
I commend the NDLEA for there effort in combating against illicit drug traffic in the country and for there successful operations so far as they have been effective and keeping things tight at there end that will in no time purge the illegal drug suppliers off this country.
NDLEA are doing a good job in eradicate drug in our country. It is a nice successful operation carried out to seize all this drug they should keep up so drug can be eradicate one and for all and to make sure all those that supply them should be caught and strictly punishment should be giving to anybody regardless of status
This is a very good job from the NDLEA, capturing and destroying hard drugs like this will frustrate the drug dealers and make them quit.
Ndlea are doing a good job recently and I hope they can keep it up so drug usage and trafficking will be very low in the country.
All parties involved in the fight against the abuse and trafficking of illegal substances should not let up on their support for the NDLEA but instead should step it up.
wonderful well job done, Keep it up. NDLEA more work need to be done. God bless us all
This is a lot of cocaine, how do these people get it, they need to figure out where they get their supplies from and start from there.
The events of today serve as yet another indicator that officers and men of NDLEA are not letting up in their pursuit of the Agency’s mandate to rid Nigeria of the drug scourge and make the country safe for its citizens.
560 tons of cannabis and cocaine intercepted in Lagos, that is a huge one. Kudos to the NDLEA for doing their jobs and I hope that some bad eggs among them will not do otherwise. Anyway keep up with the good job.
The NDLEA are really trying. Who will know that 560 tons of cannabis and cocaine and other illicit drugs can be seized by them in Muritala Mohammed international Airport in Lagos. Thanks to the Àkran Badagry Oba De Wheno-Aholu-Menu-Tony along with the NDLEA for devising other means to tackle drugs menace within the country.
To ensure that the NDLEA is performing their duties in the most effective manner possible, they need to ensure that everything they do is in line with the most effective procedures used elsewhere in the world.
Ndlea are doing a great job regarding “drug usage and trafficking. I hope they keep up the good work and try to eradicate high rate of drug usage and trafficking in the country.
This is a lot. Some crazy cartel deals. Kudos to NDLEA. They should as well continue to strive to align with best international practices.
It is good that the Ndlea are wanting to take the job further by also preventing youths from taking these hard drugs, this will help our society a lot.
560 tons of cannabis is way more than a lot. The NDLEA is doing a good job by apprehending this people, I’m looking forward to when this youth will learn their lesson and stop taking things that are detrimental to their health
I like the job the ndlea are doing and they should keep it up, plus they need to be sensitizing people most especially youths on the dangers of using hard drugs so they can desist from it.
The NDLEA officers are really doing wonderful job to curb the menace of drug in our society,they have been arresting lots of drug cartel and the users.They create awareness also concerning the disadvantages of using all this drugs but time will tell if they can Keep it up
The NDLEA is doing a very job, if they are able to apprehend others like this I’m sure the rest will desist from this act.
This drug abuse is the reason why we have high number of mentally ill people. People should just desist from things that are harmful to their body system.