Score card: NDLEA seized N33 billion worth of drugs in 2012 alone

by Rachel Ogbu

.Photo:channelstv
Photo:channelstv

To mark the 2013 United Nations’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has released figures of its achievements so far.

On Thursday, the agency released a statement saying that in 2012 alone, N33.1bn worth of drugs were seized from drug dealers.

It had also recovered over 3.4 million kilogrammes of hard drugs while 21,871 drug offenders had been convicted since the agency began operations 23 years ago.

According to reports, Chairman of the agency, Ahmadu Giade, who spoke during the inauguration of activities in Abuja, at an event tagged ‘Make Health Your New High In Life, Not Drugs’ said that the annual commemoration had given a major impetus to the global anti-drug campaign.

“We have played a cardinal role in preventing the use of West Africa as a drug trafficking hub. Since the agency began operation in 1990, we have successfully intercepted a total of 3,434,966.23kg of narcotics from drug barons. This includes 2,827,861.70kg of cannabis, 178,120.73kg of cocaine, 195,283.92kg of heroin and 233,699kg of psychotropic substances. In addition, 21,871 drug traffickers have also been convicted,” he said.

[READ: Ekiti’s Senator Ojudu in drug importation row with NAFDAC, drugs worth millions seized ]

The Punch reports:

The NDLEA boss listed some achievements of the agency to include the single seizure of 14,200kg of cocaine at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos in 2006. The seizure was rated the largest single seizure of cocaine in Africa and fifth largest in the world. A notorious drug baron, Akindele Ikumoluyi, who specialises in sponsoring drug couriers to Europe and America was arrested and convicted.

Giade also pledged to expose more drug barons in the days ahead.

“Our impressive scorecard made the United States Government to remove Nigeria from the Drug Majors List in 2010. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which has further enhanced our working relationship with the United States. Today, there is a specialised Joint Unit comprising NDLEA officers and that of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. More drug barons shall be exposed in the days ahead” he said.

 

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