Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had on Wednesday destroyed 23,721. 7948 kilograms of illicit drugs it seized between 2008 and 2022 in Enugu State.
Setting the drugs ablaze, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NDLEA, Brig-Gen Mohammed Marwa (Rtd.) said the illicit drugs were seized by the Agency totaling 23,721.7948kg.
He gave the breakdown as follow: Cocaine 21.699kg; Heroin 14.828kg; Amphetamine 0.0618kg; Methamphetamine 24.347kg; precursor chemicals 154.0kg; cannabis sativa 23,225.1kg; and pharmaceutical 281.759kg.
Marwa represented by the Director and General Investigation, NDLEA, Abuja, Samuel Gadzamal, commended the support of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the ongoing efforts to curb the abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs in the communities and society at large.
He also appreciated the international counterparts such as the United States DEA, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UK board force, the German Police and others to the success story of the Agency.
The chairman, however, called on all Nigerians to team up with government in fighting the war against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
He said the drugs had negative implications especially its adverse effects on the health of the people, avoidable road accidents and drug-related criminalities.
“More so, I want to thank other security agencies in the State for their support to the work of NDLEA,” he said.
“If the present tempo in fighting the scourge of drug menace is sustained with the cooperation from non-state actors, parents, there will be no more weeds and other psychotropic substances ” he added.
Marwa promised that the Agency would not rest on its oars and would continue to explore all avenues within the ambit of the law to rid the country of the menace of hard drugs.
He appreciated Federal and State Governments and Stakeholders for their support and determination towards the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria.
In his address, the State commander of the agency, Mr Anietie Idim, said the event was not only phenomenal to him but marked a milestone and high point in the State Command.
He explained that the cases for the public destruction of the illicit drugs had been concluded at the Federal High Court Enugu after painstaking and diligent efforts of many officers of the Agency to clean and clear the State of illicit drug and its consequences.
Idim said a total of 23,506.279 kilograms of different illicit drug were seized in Enugu State Command and 215.515kilograms were at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
“Let me affirm that we are relentless in our collective resolve to continue the battle against our public enemies, the traffickers in illicit substances across Enugu State.
“In doing this, we thank our amiable Chairman/chief Executive officer Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa under whose watch the Agency has been rejigged, re-branded and reposition for the task ahead,” he said.
In his message, former Inspector General Police (IGP), Ogbonna Onovo, lauded NDLEA for its fight against illicit drug campaign in the country.
He noted that those drugs were catalyst for criminal activities in Nigeria.
He stressed that those who engage in them become brutal when carrying out their criminal activities to the extent of killing children and raping women.
“This has destroyed the image of the nation, everyone must join hands in fight the against it,” he said.
He also advocated for open hall of fame in honour of security officers who died in the process of the fight against illicit drugs in Nigeria and ensure that their families were adequately catered for.
