NDLEA declares war on drug barons

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday in Abuja destroyed over 24,304 Kilogrammes of forfeited illicit drug exhibits seized in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Col. Muhammad‎ Abdallah, in his welcome address at the occasion, said that the event marked the climax of the agency’s meticulous operational activity as regards seized drugs.

“This particular event is the climax of our‎ operational activities which begin with the tracking of the suspects and exhibit, prosecuting those suspects and burning of the substances in full public glare,” Abdallah said.

Newsmen report that the exhibits with an estimated street value of N250 million was carried out following destruction orders from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Abdallah said that the burning of the drugs as provided by law was meant to reassure the public that seized drugs did not find its way back to circulation.

He warned the public, especially the youth, to desist from the use of illicit drugs as the agency had intensified its crackdown on drug traffickers across the country.

The chairman said that the agency would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and international partners to sensitise the public to the dangers of illicit drug use and trafficking.

The FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, pledged to continue to support the NDLEA to rid the FCT and Nigeria of illicit drugs.

Represented by the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council‎ (AMAC), Abdullahi Candido, the minister urged the NDLEA to focus more on the grassroots, as the menace had sunk deep into the fabrics of the society.

The‎ FCT NDLEA Commander, Mrs Chinyere Obijuru, said that 24,278.3kgs of the substances were Cannabis Sativa popularly called Marijuana or Igbo, while 23.6787 kgs were Psychotropic substances, 1.6256Kgs cocaine, 0.1848kgs heroin and 0.1082kg Amphetamine.

Obijuru explained that the drugs were‎ from concluded drug cases and forfeited drug seizures from June 2015 till date as ordered by the courts.

‎She said that in 2007 alone,‎ the command seized 7, 481kgs of illicit drugs, arrested 79 persons comprising 77 males and two females, and secured 74 convictions.

The event which took place at the Lungi barracks, had in attendance officials from NDLEA, Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC, Prisons Service, UNODC, diplomats and traditional rulers.