Nabs 3,028 suspected traffickers in the same period
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that it has successfully prosecuted 686 suspected drug traffickers from January 2012 till date.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, to commemorate the ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking’ in Abuja, the Chairman of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, said 3,028 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended during the period.
He said that the seized drugs include 64,966.092kg of Cannabis, 1,134.2kg of Psychotropic substances, 131.196kg of Heroin and 42.293kg of Cocaine.
In addition, Giade added that the agency has also destroyed Cannabis farm land measuring 141.019 hectares and a total of 20,204.477kg of forfeited narcotics in Ogun, Benue and Kwara states.
He however described the large number of Nigerians in foreign prisons as “worrisome”.
He said the situation demanded urgent intervention as such drug smugglers, who majorly left the country in search of greener pasture, were tainting Nigeria’s image.
Themed, ‘Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs’, this year’s event did not come without some celebration for the country.
One of the Agency’s achievements worthy of celebration, according to Giade, is the delisting of Nigeria from the Drug Majors List by the United States Government.
“Nigeria will continue to win the war against drug barons and the tempo must be sustained,” he said.
Giade also vowed to prosecute all persons arrested in connection with drug trafficking.
?The NDLEA Act,” he said, “stipulates 15 years minimum and 25 years maximum sentence for unlawful possession of popularly known drugs like Cocaine, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Heroin, Cannabis and similar drugs.”
Mariam Sissoko, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) country representative, said her office was already partnering with NDLEA to fight against illicit drugs in the country.
She noted that the “UNODC has a good working relationship with the Agency in tracing precursor chemicals and execution of drug abuse preventive programmes.?
