NDLEA seizes N22bn worth of drugs in 2015

The Chief Executive Officer of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,
NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha
Abdallah (rtd.) has disclosed that the anti-
narcotic agency seized drugs worth N22
billion last year.
The anti-drug crusader said that
concerted effort was needed against the
threat posed by narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances peddlers to the
country. Abdallah, who spoke on the state
of drug control in Nigeria in Lagos, put the
total weight of the seized drugs at
903,624.56 kilogrammes.
He maintained that the drug control was
an important campaign that affects
national security and public health and
charged the public to collectively rise up
against drug trafficking organisation. “The
effects of drugs on children, youths,
families and communities are
unimaginable.
There is need for a greater understanding
of the effects of drugs by members of the
public,” Abdallah said. A further
breakdown of the anti- drug war efforts
showed that the agency arrested 8,778
suspected drug traffickers comprising
8,143 males and 635 females during the
year. The drugs include, cannabis
871,480.32kg, psychotropic substances
30,652.93kg, ephedrine is 785.10kg,
methamphetamine 410.82kg, cocaine
260.47kg, heroin 30.09kg and
amphetamine 4.83kg. The Agency also
won 1,690 cases prosecuted in 2015.
“Nigeria is in the vanguard of the global
crusade against illicit drug production,
trafficking and abuse.
We are committed to our obligations
under the United Nations drug control
Conventions and we are playing a leading
role in regional counter narcotics
programmes.
“Nigeria is making significantly effort in
addressing the problem of drug trafficking
and abuse.
The NDLEA will continue to give drug
control all the attention required for total
victory,” the NDLEA boss assured.
He further identified training and effective
collaboration with stakeholders as some
of the reasons for the giant strides
recorded by the agency.
Source: National mirror