NDLEA Jails 21,871 Drug Traffickers

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, yesterday said 21,871 drug traffickers were convicted across the country in the last 13 years.

Giade said this at the 2013 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, with the theme, “New Psychoactive Substances’’, in Abuja.

He said the agency had successfully intercepted 3.44 million kilogramme of narcotic, which comprise 2.83 million kilogrammes of cannabis, 178,120.73kg of cocaine, 195,283.92kg of heroin and 233,699kg of psychotropic substances the within same period

The chairman said drug barons had been prevented from degrading and endangering the country through illegal drug production.

He said the agency had played an important role in preventing the use of West Africa as a drug trafficking hub.

“The past few years have witnessed a remarkable achievement. In 2006, we have made seizure of 14,200kg of cocaine at the Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

It was rated the largest single seizure of cocaine in Africa and fifth largest in the world,’’ Giade said.

Giade said the arrest and conviction of these drug traffickers had made the U.S. to remove Nigeria from the drug major list in 2010.

He said that five clandestine laboratories used for the production of methamphetamine were discovered.

“Out of the five clandestine, four of them were discovered in Lagos, while the fifth laboratory was discovered in Nanka village, Anambra State.’’

He said the discovery of the drug factory propelled the theme of this year’s programme, which was aimed at fighting illicit drug trafficking to the end.

The chairman called on members of the public to expose drug traffickers selling drugs in corners shops to curb the menace.

“The agency is determined to end the agonies of families grappling with drug addiction.

We must, therefore, protect the public health, national and food security through effective drug control,’’ he said.