A member of Australia’s hockey team has been arrested in Paris and is in custody for allegedly buying cocaine.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the individual was arrested on Tuesday night for buying cocaine in the ninth arrondissement.
The Australia Olympic Committee (AOC), who did not name the individual or say what the offence was, said they had not yet been charged.
They have been widely named in the media as men’s player Tom Craig – a 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist at Tokyo 2020 – although the BBC has been unable to verify this.
BBC Sport has contacted the AOC to ask if they can confirm it is Craig.
In a statement to the BBC, the prosecutor’s office said: “Police officers who witnessed a cocaine transaction at the foot of a building in the 9th arrondissement (of Paris), on the night of August 6th to 7th, apprehended the seller, born in December 2006, and the buyer, born in September 1995 in Australia and who is said to be a member of the Australian field hockey team.
“Given the quantities of drugs seized from the seller, the investigation has been entrusted to the anti-narcotics police.”
Australia’s men’s and women’s hockey teams were both knocked out at the quarter-final stage at Paris 2024.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a post on his verified X handle yesterday morning.
The post showed two photos of the suspect dressed in a uniform with the inscription, “Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha” and two videos which demonstrated how the drugs were concealed in the sandals.
The post did not state the suspect’s name or where the arrest was made.
Babafemi’s post reads: “God is not mocked! You’re wearing a cloth advertising God on your trip to Europe but you’re concealing cocaine worth millions in the sandals you’re wearing beneath. The temerity! The audacity! Video reveals moment @ndlea_nigeria officers discovered this at the Lagos airport#NDLEA.”
In a statement later, Babafemi said Akajiobi was arrested at the Departure Hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos while attempting to board his Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid.
According to the statement, during a preliminary interview, the suspect claimed the consignment was delivered to him at a bar in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and was to deliver it to his friend and neighbour in Spain and get €5,000 as fee.
The Spokesman added that a suspect, Makinde Sodiq Lekan, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 51.60kg that arrived the SAHCO Imports shed of the Lagos airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Canada via Istanbul, Turkey.
He also said operatives of a Special Operations Unit targeting syndicates that specialise in shipping large consignments of opioids into neighbouring countries arrested one of the kingpins, Chukwuemaka Obodozie.
Babafemi said the syndicates attempt smuggling them into Nigeria from this neighbouring countries in smaller quantities through transport companies.
“He was arrested in the early hours of July 21 at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi-Apapa Express Road, Lagos with 100,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg loaded in two bags shortly after his arrival from Ghana via one of the transport companies plying the Lagos-Ghana route. The intelligence led operation followed five months of surveillance around Chukwuemeka,” the statement reads.
Babafemi also said no fewer than 17 suspects were arrested last Friday when NDLEA operatives raided the Owena forest in Oriade Local Government Area, Osun State.
He said the operatives destroyed 31,250 kilogrammes of cannabis on 12.5 hectares of farmland, while 84kg of processed cannabis sativa was recovered along with a single barrel dane gun.
“Those arrested include: Peter Osuya, 51; Zebron Ode, 46; Dogo Reuben Matthew, 35; Isaac Terna; Joseph David Lawrence, 27; Ugochukwu Victory, 24; Olamilekan Abolarin, 26; Dele Ayibo, 44; Ojo Moses, 21; Nini Ayila, 27; Msughve Clement, 23; Chuks Ogeneku, 40; Dada Aribo, 20; Uche Endurance, 30; Patrick Agba, 21; Osakwe Kennedy, 45; and Ojo Babatunde, 29,” he said.
He also said in Kaduna State, NDLEA operatives on stop-and-search patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway last Saturday intercepted a 32-year-old lady, Ubaida Aliyu, in possession of 573 rounds of 7.60 live ammunition, which she claimed she was attempting to deliver to bandits in Sokoto.
The statement reads: “While a suspect, Godwin Udochukwu, 35, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 25,000 ampoules of Pentazocine injection by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway, another suspect, Alkasim Mikailu, 35, was nabbed in Kano on a follow up operation following the seizure of 37,880 ampoules of Diazepam injection along Abuja-Kaduna highway.”
The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a post on his verified X handle in the early hours of Sunday, July 28.
The post showed two photos of the suspect dressed in a uniform with the inscription, “Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha” and two videos that demonstrated how the drugs were concealed in the sandals.
The post did not reveal the suspect’s name or where the arrest was made.
Babafemi’s post reads: “God is not mocked! You’re wearing a cloth advertising God on your trip to Europe but you’re concealing cocaine worth millions in the sandals you’re wearing beneath. The temerity! The audacity! The video reveals moment @ndlea_nigeria officers discovered this at the Lagos airport#NDLEA.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has seized illicit shipments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves, and ladies’ native wears at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, who said suspects linked to them were also arrested, indicated this was a blow to the frantic bid of drug syndicates and some courier firms in Lagos to smuggle drugs in and out of the country.
Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, July 20, said a businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu, was on Thursday 18th July 2024 arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with men of Customs Service.
According to the statement, a search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits including some drug paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki.
Babafemi said a Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house.
He said in the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Friday 19th July intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan.
He said the bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves, and other food items, which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg.
According to the statement, further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise based in the South Asia country.
Babafemi said also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday 18th July intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses.
He said the suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE on Emirates Airline.
The spokesman said a thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wear.
The statement indicated that the suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai.
Babafemi said not less than 4.5kg of the same substance concealed inside the door panels and boot of an imported Toyota RAV 4 vehicle was on Sunday 14th July recovered from a container marked MSDU 5656394 from Canada during a 100% search of the container at Tincan port in Lagos.
He said two suspects: Dada Kole and Alaba Oladewusi have been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Babafemi also a 48-year-old one-legged man, Amadu Garba was arrested by NDLEA operatives in his house at Yawuri town, Kebbi State with six bags of cannabis weighing 67kg on Tuesday 16th July.
The statement reads: “In Abuja, two suspects: 60-year-old Ademola Elusakin and 34-year-old Nuhu Friday Adamu were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Monday 15th July with 30.0kg of the same psychoactive substance along Kwali-Gwagwalada-Abuja expressway on their way from Lagos to Nasarawa state.
“Elusakin claimed he procured the consignment from Ghana via Lagos with Keffi, Nasarawa state as his final destination, where they were to supply illegal miners operating in the area.
“At least, 305 blocks of cannabis weighing 152.5kg were recovered from a suspect, Sale Bukar, 39, who was arrested at Geidam in Yobe state on Sunday 14th July while taking the illicit consignment to Diffa, in the Niger Republic.
“While a suspect: Aham Regal Chinemeze, 43, was nabbed on Thursday 18th July with 60kg of the same substance along Owerri – Onitsha expressway, Imo state, Adamu Abdullahi, 24, was arrested with 40.500kg on Wednesday 17th July along Obajana -Kabba expressway, Kogi state.
“The consignment was recovered from him in a commercial bus coming from Lagos en route Kano.
In Plateau state, a raid on the storehouse of a notorious drug dealer, Choji Gyang (aka Pararam) who is currently at large, at Rukuba Road, Jos led to the recovery of 34 bags of cannabis weighing 312kg while his manager, Kelvin Onwutalu, 43, was arrested.
“Two suspects: Ifabiyi Johnson, 27, and Adeleke Musiliu, 54, were on Friday 19th July arrested with different strains of cannabis sativa weighing 30.4kg during a raid in Osogbo, Osun state.
“In Jigawa state, the trio of Tukur Yahaya, 55; Idris Haruna, 28; and Tanimu Umar, 29, were nabbed with 90 blocks of cannabis weighing 116.8kg at Roni junction, Kazaure LGA, on Friday 19th July while on their way to supply the illicit drugs to their customers in Kazaure, Yankwashi and Katsina state.
“Similarly, the duo of Ibrahim Abdulkadir, 29, and Suleman Mohammed, 22, were arrested with 336 bottles of codeine syrup at Amingo, Kaduna, while Auwalu Hashimu, 35, was nabbed with 45 kilograms of cannabis along Zaria- Kano highway.
“Acting on credible intelligence, a team of NDLEA operatives backed by soldiers raided a mechanic workshop opposite Benin garage, Akure, Ondo state where they recovered a white Toyota Hilux Van with registration number EE 328 EKY loaded with 652 parcels of cannabis weighing 685kg. In Nasarawa state, 38kg of the same psychoactive substance and a locally made AK-47 rifle were recovered from the home of a suspect, Christopher Ombugadu, 32, in Akwanga during a raid on Sunday 14th July.
“With the same vigour, Commands, and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities among others in the past week. These include WADA enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Federal Science and Technical College, Dayi, Katsina state; Community High School (Senior), Owode, Ogun state; Urban Secondary School, Awgu, Enugu state and Goretti Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state among others.
“While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Kaduna, Jigawa, Osun, Yobe, Plateau, Kogi, Imo and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated. He urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 80 wraps of cocaine.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said due to the volume of illicit drugs in the Ogbonna’s stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect choked and began to retch before vomitting and excreting wraps of cocaine he ingested.
The NDLEA spokesman said Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday March 31 while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name, Carr Bismark.
Babafemi said the suspect was taken for a body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.
According to the statement, preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna. He was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort.
“The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days.
“The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.”
Babafemi said NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport also on Wednesday April 3 intercepted a drug mule, Imran Taofeek Olalekan, at Gate C departure of Terminal 1 travelling to Oman with a check-in luggage and a backpack.
He said when Olalekan’s check-in bag and backpack were subjected to thorough search, the operatives discovered a false bottom concealment of drugs in the check-in luggage and in the walls of the backpack.
The NDLEA officers swiftly moved in on a man who accompanied the suspect to the airport, Babafemi said.
He said the man was later identified as Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who recruited the trafficker.
“Imran Taofeek Olalekan said he returned from Dubai some years ago but still has a valid residence permit on his old passport. He claimed he was promised N1,500,000 if he successfully delivers the consignment in Oman, while his recruiter, Ishola was to be paid N200,000.
“Curiously, when the two bags were completely unpacked at the NDLEA office, a charm was found in one of the bags while another one was found on the drug mule who confessed that he traveled to Ibadan, Oyo state to meet with an ‘Alfa’ that prepared the charm for him to ensure he was not caught during the trip.
“Another charm was also found on the intermediary, Ishola Isiaka Olalekan who accompanied Taofeek to the departure area of the airport. Ishola claimed he procured the charms for the sum of N70,000.
“At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, NDLEA operatives also on Wednesday 3rd April, intercepted 2,144 parcels of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing of 1,072kg. The seizure was made during a joint examination with Customs Service and other stakeholders of a container marked GAOU 6699215 coming from Montreal, but originated from Toronto, Canada.
“The drugs packed in 46 jumbo bags were found concealed in used 2009 Lexus RX 350, 2011 Toyota Sienna, and 2009 Lexus ES 350 as well as used engines, automobile doors, tyres, and used household goods as well as big drums loaded into the container.
“In Kano, a 48-year-old suspect, Gidado Sani who jumped the bail granted him by a Federal High Court in Kano on drug offence charges, was on Friday 5th April re-arrested in Sharada area of the state with 85 blocks of cannabis weighing 50.1kg, while NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Thursday 4th April, arrested another suspect Wasiu Jimoh, during a raid operation at Ilese Awo, with 84 parcels (62kg) of cannabis sativa.
“Operatives in Lagos on Wednesday 3rd April intercepted a suspect, Emeka Umeh with 506.2kg cannabis at Igbede, Ojo area of the state, while another suspect, Victor Okeke was nabbed on Friday 5th April at Igbo Elerin, Ojo, with 142grams of cannabis sativa and 175 litres of skuchies recovered from him. Attempt by 35-year-old Ifeanyi Udogwu to smuggle 1.5kg cocaine concealed in music speakers from Lagos through Aba, Abia state to his uncle, Ifeanyi Udogwu based in Cameroon was thwarted on Wednesday 3rd April when NDLEA officers working in collaboration with transport company, Young Shall Grow Motors, arrested him,” the statement reads.
Babafemi said the Commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and communities.
“Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture for commercial drivers at the Osun State Transport Management System Complex, Osogbo; youths of Assembly of God Church, Ibereko, Badagry, Lagos; and drivers at Sunny Motor Park, Aroma, Awka, Anambra state, among others.
“While commending the efforts of the MMIA, Tincan, Ogun, Kano and Lagos Commands of the Agency, for jobs well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and intensify their offensive action against drug cartels and their WADA advocacy campaign in every community nationwide,” Babafemi said.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 67-year-old trafficker, Chukwuemeka Clement, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja for allegedly ingesting 100 wraps of cocaine.
Spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi, who revealed this in a statement yesterday, said Chukwuemeka claimed he ventured into the illicit business to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh after wasting 30 years of his life in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand.
Babafemi said Chukwuemeka was arrested on October 3 during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight 951 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and taken for body scan, which revealed multiple pellets in his stomach.
He said while under observation, the suspect excreted 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 2.195 kilogrammes in four excretions.
Babafemi said: “In his statement, he claimed to have spent 30 years in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand, while he was once married, but lost his wife and without a child. He said that was why he decided to go into drug trafficking to raise enough money to marry a new wife and start life afresh.”
According to the statement, on the same day, October 3, NDLEA operatives at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, intercepted a 45-year-old woman, Bilkisu Mohammed Bello, while preparing to board a Saudia Airlines flight to Saudi Arabia.
The agency’s spokesman said while being interviewed, she confessed that pellets of cocaine given to her to swallow before her flight were kept in a house in Farawa area of Kano.
Babafemi said when she led NDLEA officers to the house, 52 wraps of the illicit substance with a total weight of 767grammes were recovered.
The Kano Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two suspects in possession of 2.927 kilograms of cocaine in the state. The NDLEA Commander in Kano, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Saturday, said the suspects were arrested in a hotel along Katsina road in the city. He noted that, the arrest was first of its kind in the Kano Command similar to its recent discovery of an Indian hemp farm in the state for the first time also.
He explained that for over a month, the command has been trailing and monitoring the movement of the suspects following an intelligent report by its men. He added that the suspects were arrested while swallowing the cocaine to be transported to Sudan en route Saudi Arabia. Abdul said that the arrest was part of the command’s effort towards bringing to the end, the issues of drug abuse and trafficking in the state.
“An onslaught meted on the hard drug barons resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Abdul Abubakar and Ibrahim Mustapha and also the seizure of 2.927 kilograms of cocaine for the first time in the command”, he said. Abdul further explained that during the month, the command had arrested 4 suspects in possession of a pistol along Kano-Gwarzo road on their way to Funtua in Katsina State.
NDLEA commander said that during the month in review, NDLEA had dislodged 50 hotspots within and outside the metropolis, adding that such success was recorded due to the command’s tireless efforts in fight against any form of drug abuse. “Within the month of April, we succeeded in seizing 836.927 kilograms of exhibits which includes 9.927 Cocaine, 250 kilograms of Cannabis Savita, 560 kilograms of Tramadol, and also a foreign drug imported from South Africa called Khat with 24 kilograms quantity”, he said.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, sentenced one Micheal Adebowale, to five years imprisonment for selling cocaine.
Adebowale was charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a one-count charge bordering on drug trafficking.
In the charge, the convict was said to have been arrested on July 6, at Oniru in Lekki Lagos, where he engaged in the sale and distribution of cocaine.
Adebowale pleaded guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, said that following a tip off, the convict was arrested; adding that 0.7g of cocaine was recovered from him.
Aernan tendered a written statement of the convict, a request for scientific aid form and a drug analysis form as evidence before the court.
He also tendered the remnant of the narcotic substances that the convict unlawfully trafficked.
The pieces of evidence were admitted by the court and marked as exhibits.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 11 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.
He then urged the court to convict the accused accordingly.
In his judgment, Justice Rilwan Aikawa found Adebowale guilty of the offence as charged and sentenced him to five years imprisonment, saying that the sentence should begin from the date of the arrest.
Shortly before the sentence, the convict had pleaded for leniency, claiming to be a first offender and prayed the court to give him second chance and promised to be a changed person.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court Ikoyi at the weekend sentenced a deaf and dumb and a security guard to five years imprisonment each for dealing in cannabis and cocaine.
The deaf and dumb, Abbas Ahmed, 23, was arrested by police officers on February 5, 2014 along Agege Motor Road, Lagos while dealing in a kilogramme of cannabis, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2001.
Adebowale Michael, 22, security guard was arrested with four pinches of cocaine weighing 0.7 grammes at Oniru Estate, Lekki Ajah Lagos by patriotic youths in February 2017 who handed him over to the police.
He was later transferred to the NDLEA where he was charged for unlawful dealing in cocaine contrary to and punishable under the NDLEA Act.
After a protracted trial of Abbas in which the court engaged the services of an interpreter to communicate with him, he recently pleaded guilty as charged.
The prosecuting counsel, Jeremiah Aernan asked the court to apply the punishment prescribed by the law strictly so as to deter others from getting involved in drug trafficking.
The convicts also pleaded for mercy urging the court to consider their young age and the fact that they are first offenders.
Justice Aikawa in his ruling noted that drug trafficking particularly cocaine trafficking is an international crime that has smeared the reputation of the country and must be seriously dealt with. He therefore sentenced both convicts to five years imprisonment each.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), commended the youths that arrested Adebowale urging that we must not sit and fold our hands while drug traffickers are making our society unsafe and insecure.
He called on members of the public to report suspected drug cases to law enforcement agents for prompt action.
There is no argument about the fact that drug abuse and illicit trafficking of substances is a worldwide feeling of discomfort that has a far-reaching consequence because it is fraught with crime, corruption and terrorism. We can observe that Nigeria has the highest consumption of illicit drugs. Due to the invention of new technologies, the production of these drugs has increase which makes them to become very cheap and therefore affordable.
International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking is a day set aside to raise awareness to major problems that the unlawful use and distribution of drugs portends for the society.
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking serves to draw awareness to the need for action and cooperation in order to achieve a drug-free world. Illicit drugs and their trafficking pose a large health threat to humanity. Drug problems and dependencies put a great deal of pressure on health care systems and constitute a threat to the safety and well-being of humans all around the globe.
Long-term drug abuse has been linked to poor general health, contraction of diseases through needle sharing, trouble with the law, poor self-hygiene, alienation from loved ones, psychological illnesses and death from overdose.
In December 1987, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was designated by the United Nations. It is celebrated annually on June 26, a symbolic day that commemorates the dismantling of the opium trade in Guangdong. The day also serves as an opportunity for Member Nations to reaffirm their support for UN Conventions that attempt to control the world’s drug supply.
Drug abuse according to Wikipedia is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the substance in amount or with methods which are harmful to themselves. Drug abuse can also be associated with taking overdose of a drug. Examples of abused drugs include: cocaine, heroin, marijuana, prescription drugs, including opioids.
Illicit trafficking on the other hand is an illegal trading, selling or dealing in specified goods.
‘Health’ is the ongoing theme of the world drug campaign. According to the United Nations report, the value of illegal drugs traded around the world is put at more than $32billion yearly. According to this statistics, we can see that drug abuse and trafficking is a problem and major deterrent to humanity and the wellbeing of the youths in particular.
The most surprising thing is the increasing number of secondary school and tertiary institution students taken to consuming hard drugs. Other groups of individuals susceptible to drug abuse are drivers, conductors, artists, musicians, etc.
Considering the biological implications of drug abuse, it is pertinent that we understand not only the injurious effect of substance abuse to our organs, but also to unborn children at the fetal stage. An expectant mother who is taken to drug abuse might be causing more harm than good to her unborn child.
Psychosocially, drug abuse destroys families progressively; once a member of a family becomes overtly addicted to drug (especially psychedelic drugs), he or she begins to act irrationally. This can prove huge danger for those around them, as there are a plethora of stories of siblings hurting each other due to drug abuse.
The consequences of drug abuse have been violence, rape, suicide, poor academic performance, poor health condition, school dropout etc. Drug abuse is associated with vices such as cultism, armed robbery, thuggery, etc.
Conclusively, it is expedient that government (federal and state), and all their policy wonks should begin to not only pass laws to curb the preponderance of drug abuse, but also, to enforce the extant laws on substance abuse.
Parents are also to play key roles in the educational progress of their children through effective communication with the children and with the help of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other paraphernalia of government like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and Human right groups. Investing more on technological devices that can enhance the ability to detect hard drug traffickers is also advisable.
