NDLEA Convicts 43 Drug Barons …Destroys 5,348.4kg Cannabis

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has reiterated its determination to prevent drug barons from establishing a cartel or having a free-day in the sales of illicit drugs.

NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade stated this recently in Ado Ekiti while leading a team of NDLEA operatives and government officials to destroy more than 5,348.47 kg of cannabis and psychotropic substances.

Giade said that between January and October, 43 drug barons were convicted in Ekiti state, which is an indication that the war against illicit drug was yielding results.

He said that the NDLEA had stepped up its intelligence gathering mechanism around the country to incapacitate drug cartels and their syndicates to prevent their drugs from circulating.

“The agency will continue to trace drug barons to their hideouts. They will have no space to operate because their activities are harmful to the society.

“Illicit drugs and crime are inter-related as most crimes are perpetrated under the influence of drugs.

“Last week, while the preparation for this exercise was ongoing, a seizure of 1,700 kg of cannabis was made by the command,” he said.

Giade further disclosed that his officers were busy monitoring the activities of drug syndicates and said that they might launch their attacks as soon as expedient.

“Our operations are well organised and systematically executed. Through effective intelligence gathering, we have located and destroyed cannabis plantations within the state.

“Large seizures of drugs in warehouses and others meant for inter-state shipment have also been intercepted,” he said.

He lauded the Ekiti State Government for making NDLEA a member of the State’s Security Council, and described the measure as pro-active in the war against illicit drugs.

The NDLEA boss solicited the donation of operational vehicles and other security gadgets to the command for effective discharge of their duties.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said the government had set up a committee, comprising of all security agencies to patrol all the forest reserves in the state with the aim of flushing out those, who plant dangerous weeds.

Represented by the Secretary to Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, Fayemi said that a law had been enacted to empower the government to confiscate any land used as cannabis plantation in the state.

Cross-section of 1985 Law graduates of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Leyii Kwane (middle)