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Tag: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

  • NDLEA to curb drug abuse through ‘special raids’ in FCT

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT command says it is poised to curb drug abuse and trafficking among youths in the territory through “Surprise Raiding Strategy” (SRS).

    Mr Peter Adegbe, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command disclosed this in an interview with our reporter on Friday in Abuja.

    He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers’ black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

    According to Adegbe, the strategy is part of the agency’s efforts in tackling drug vendors and traffickers in the territory and environs.

    He said the command would achieve the goal by ensuring that the demand and supply of both cocaine and cannabis sativa are reduced to the barest minimum.

    Read Also: NAFDAC reopens Emzor Pharmaceutical firm

    “Once people, especially the youths, are well informed about the dangers of drug abuse, the demand will drastically reduce and this will affect the supply.

    “The command has chosen to tackle the menace of drug abuse and ridding the territory with this new strategy,” he said.

    The spokesman said that the menace of drug abuse had become a global concern as citizens particularly young people in several countries were engaged in the act.

    “It is disheartening that children at tender age already have problem using drugs.

    “There should be deliberate and sustained efforts at educating the younger generation on drug prevention,’’ Adegbe said.

    The spokesman said the command would not relent in its efforts to rid the FCT of hard drugs, adding that several campaigns had been held in this regard.

    He urged Nigerians especially parents and guardians to give listening ears to their children and youths who were the vulnerable groups against drug abuse.

    Adegbe also appealed to residents of the FCT to join hands with the NDLEA in ensuring a responsible society void of social vices.

    “The public needs to understand that they should also support the NDLEA in tackling this drug menace,” he said. 

    NAN

  • NDLEA raids Abia market, arrests four hard drug suspects

    …To setup outpost near market to check dealers activities

     

    Personnel of the Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have reportedly arrested four suspected drug addicts in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    The suspects, Sunny Opai (27yrs), Obinna Daniel (38yrs), Ese Emmanuel (22yrs) and Igwe Agu (19yrs), The Nation gathered were arrested when officers of the NDLEA raided one of the markets (Ahia Ohuru) popular for the sale of various type of textile materials in Aba, the southeast and Africa as well.

    The Commander of NDLEA, Bamidele Akingbade in a chat with our correspondent at the command’s headquarter along Ogbor Hill, Aba confirmed the arrests of the suspects.

    Akingbade stated that the suspects were arrested when personnel of the agency, acting on intelligence on the nefarious activities of the drug addicts which was posing great danger to traders and visitors alike, raided the market.

    According to Akingbade, the suspects and others at large were part of the group that regrouped in a section of the market after a successful joint operation in the same market in 2017.

    “Because of our inability to consistently raid and dislodge them from the part of Ahia Ohuru (New Market) where they were staying in the past to carry out their illegal activity, they regrouped and started unleashing mayhem such as raping of victims, snatching of phones, dispossessing of the victims of their valuables etc, we raided the place and arrested the suspects while the military gave us protection.”

    He added that efforts to check sale and smoking of hard and illicit drugs within and around the market were in top gear as the agency had already secured a place near the market to station an outpost that will be manned on 24hr basis by its personnel.

    The NDLEA boss who disclosed that a committee on drugs and narcotics made up by its personnel and officials of the state ministry of health that has a pivotal role to play in the war against drug abuse would soon meet with the governor of the state to discuss on how to ensure that activities of hard and illicit drug dealers were nipped in the bud.

    He also stated that efforts to involve the local government executives and traditional institutions across the 17 local councils of the state in the campaign against the sale and consumption of psychotropic substances would soon commence. With aggressive rural campaign.

  • Man bags 50 months for drug trafficking

    A 38-year-old man, Ayo Ogunjobi, is to spend the next 50 months in prison for drug trafficking, a Federal High Court ruled in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Ogunjobi was sentenced after he pleaded guilty of trafficking in 1.1 kg of Cannabis (Hemp).

    The convict, who is unemployed, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a charge of drug trafficking before Justice Chuka Obiozor.

    Delivering his judgment, Obiozor pronounced the accused guilty as charged and sentenced him to 50 months in jail, directing that the prison term should run from the date of his arrest.

    After his plea, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan of the NDLEA, reviewed the facts of the case before the court.

    Aernan tendered in evidence a written statement of the convict, the bulk of drug exhibit, a request for scientific aid form, a drug analysis form, as well as remnants of the restricted substance.

    The court, accordingly, admitted the evidences as exhibits.

    The prosecution told the court that the convict committed the offence on Feb. 19.

    Aernan said the convict was arrested at Odonla Odoguyan in Ikorodu in Lagos State with 1.1kg of hemp.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    The convict had begged the court for mercy, asking for another chance to make amends and  change

  • Katsina NDLEA laments poor funding, inadequate logistics

    The Katsina state command of the National Drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have cried out over poor government funding of operational activities and inadequate logistics which has hampered the successful prosecution of the drug war in the state

    The NDLEA coordinator in the state, Hajia Miriam Gambo Sani, told the Nation in an exclusive interview that the federal government have shown unserious attitude towards the current fight against drug abuse and drug related crimes in the state and country, adding that there are little chances of any success on the on-going war if the situation remains the same

    Hajia  Sani insisted further  that the attitude of governments both at federal, states and local levels, especially in the area of funding and provision of critically needed logistics, does not speak well of a country determined to win the drug war, against unrepentant addict and peddlers alike

    She said ’’we don’t have the requisite manpower, sufficient operational vehicles both at the state and the national headquarters of the agency, budgetary allocations to the agency have been dwindling over the successive years’’

    ‘’In Katsina for instance there are several local government areas and village outlets we have not visited or covered even for once due to manpower shortages and operation needs.

    ‘’ We have a situation where one area command covers 6 local government areas’’

    ‘’what happens in our head office is a reflection of the situation in the state commands. The federal government is not serious in fighting drug crime’’

    She further disclosed that the agency in collaboration with the state government and other siater security agencies are embarking on public enlightenment campaigns targeted at the youths, who according to her embrace the culture of drug abuse through peer groups and social contacts

    She called on the federal government and other tiers, to embrace the fight against drug crimes with renewed commitment and attention.

    She further alluded to a situation where the state can only boast of two operational vehicles to cover a state with a population of over 7 million people as very disturbing.

     

  • ‘Save us from ‘Cannabis Cultivators’ in Ondo’

    Timber farmers in Ondo state have accused some government officials  of aiding Indian hemp cultivation.

    A petition written to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu through one of the victims, Mrs Adenike Adeolu, who was allocated Compartment 124 Akure/Ofosu Forest Reserve, alleged that some government officials were bent on destroying her business.

    It was learnt that already, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)Zone 11,Osogbo and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) had sent an investigative team to know the veracity of the allegation.

    Adeolu, said to have been in the business legally for more than 22 years, hinted that some persons (names withheld) were arrested in 2014 and made to sign an undertaking to stop Indian hemp plantation in the reserves.

    Besides, she petitioned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ondo State command, and reporting one Mrs Funmilayo Fayeun of planting and harvesting the illicit substance on her compartment.

    She pointed out that some government functionaries that called themselves “Commissioner boys,” guarded by security agents, often raid the forest to destroy and extort the farmers, collecting huge amount of money from them.

    According to her “These people storm the reserves and get as much as N500, 000 from the timbre farmers. And this money is not remitted into the state government’s purse.”

    She lamented that several complaints had been made to government agencies, ministries and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Pastor Akin Olotu, for assistance.

    It was learnt that the Association of Olus and Baales Ala/Akure Ofosu Forest Area had sent a “Save our soul” plea to the governor on February 28, lamenting that those government functionaries were rubbishing his people-centred policies.

    Adeolu, who vehemently opposed Indian hemp plantation in the reserves, said she had been the target of the illegal dealers, who influenced government officials to persecute her due to the inducement received from the former.

    According to her, “I was banned unjustly through a stop work order, preventing me from doing my legal business just because I resisted the plantation of cannabis on the farmland which we inherited from our fore-fathers.”

    He said the woman farmer leveled wrong allegations against the ministry to cover up all her illegal activities since she started the business.

    Adeolu however warned that the action of the government will have multiple effects on the society, stressing that if the forest is allowed to be destroyed by the criminals, the teeming youths who get legal means of livelihood therein would storm the streets.

    The aggrieved timber merchant shown the “Stop Work Order” paper from Ministry of Natural Resources, dated 21/03/2018 to our correspondent and alleged she was being victimized with trump-up charges.

    She lamented that her business worth millions of naira were rotten away in the forest‚.

    Mrs Adeolu urged Akeredolu to call his aide, Lawal and others who hide under government to give order, warning that the plantation of cannabis would not deplete the forest.

  • NDLEA harps on the dangers of drug abuse

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday reiterated its advice to Nigerians to shun drug abuse.

    It described drug abuse as social problem of serious consequences to the abuser and society.

    Mr Ladan Hashim, its Principal Staff Officer (Drug Demand Reduction) in Zamfara Command, gave the advice while speaking to newsmen in Gusau.

    Hashimu said drug abuse had regrettably spread to the different strata of the society.

    He said that the development had attracted the attention of government and international organisations which had embarked on several policies and programmes to curb the menace.

    The fight against drug abuse is coordinated by the NDLEA through public enlightenment, seizure, arrest and prosecution of offenders.

    Read Also: NDLEA arraigns suspected drug baron

    According to Hashimu, in a period of less than a year, at least 13 persons, mostly females, had gone mad under the influence of drug abuse in the state.

    “The new dimension in drug abuse these days are heroin and cocaine as well as some traditional toxic,” he said.

    Hashim said that drugs being taken in “localized forms” included lizard dung, steam from pit latrines and gutters.

    “This is in addition to the rampant use of cough syrup with codeine and rubber solution glue,” he said.

    He charged families, schools, religious and traditional leaders to intensify their efforts in inculcating and molding the characters of young ones

    Hashimu also urged government, civil society organizations and individuals to get involved in the activities that prevent people from falling into the habit.

    NAN

  • Wanted: Effective, healthy drug policy in Nigeria

    As human beings cannot be put in the waste bin, persons who use drugs cannot, as well, be trashed. This means we need to accommodate one another and figure out the best possible ways to make lives better and comfortable for all. Persons who actively use drugs and persons on rehabilitation should neither be victimised nor stigmatised by their actions. Rather, their rights as individuals should be respected. They should be considered as equals in the society. With no form of bias or discrimination, we can live in peace, love and unity.

    Drug control policies are not producing intended results in Nigeria. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), a federal agency, is tasked to enforce laws promulgated against cultivation, processing, sale, trafficking and use of hard drugs and investigating persons suspected to have dealings in drugs.

    The NDLEA aims to eradicate cannabis as it is considered illegal. Unfortunately, these laws only promote illegal use of drug and increase the number of young people who engage in problematic drug use, thereby having negative impacts on the society.

    Recently, news broke that the National Assembly is making effort to amend the NDLEA Act, with the aim to empower the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step up sensitisation campaigns on the effects of drug use, its disorder and the steps to take to realize successful treatments for persons in recovery.

    This is a good development. However, there is more work to be done judging from the present challenges we face which include mass incarceration, drug related violence, insecurity, corruption and public health risks. The present proposal made to increase tariffs on alcohol and tobacco products so as to discourage its use would likely do more harm than good in Nigeria.

    Criminal justice system in Nigeria is inefficient as a result of inadequate funding of safe consumption facilities to cater for persons in recovery. Also, there are cases of many persons awaiting trials for non-violent drug offenses, congestion of prisons and non-implementation of good drug policy reforms.

    How can we help persons with drug use disorder? This can be achieved by having cordial relationships with them. We should always see great potentials in these persons rather than regard them as drug addicts. Government should support them by setting out strategies that would promote their well being and safety.

    Going forward, one of our prominent leaders and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has been making positive moves by advocating that our government should rethink the nation’s drug policy. Obasanjo is the chairman of West African Commission on Drugs (WACD) and a signatory to the new report released by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which states that: “The current attitude of stigmatising drugs is hindering effective policy making; the government should be talking about ‘harm reduction’ rather than criminalisation.”

    Good measures and treatment facilities should be provided for persons who use drugs. There is the need to promote favorable drug policies at both local and national levels in order to reduce its harms and improve our safety as a whole.

    In line with this, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Nigeria is established with the aim to utilise student activism and set grassroots strategies to reform drug policies in our country. We are dedicated to ending the war on drugs as we believe that the war on drugs is a war on us.

    • Odunola is a board member of Students For Sensible Drug Policy in Nigeria

  • Emir of Daura warns youths against drug abuse

    Emir of Daura in Katsina State, Alhaji Farouk Umar, has called for more vigilance and collaboration between the customs and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to stem the menace of drug abuse.

    Farouk made the call in Daura on Thursday when he received members of the NYSC Free Drug Club who were on sensitisation mission on the dangers of drug abuse.

    He said customs and NDLEA needed to redouble their efforts and intensify surveillance, to detect importers, sellers, buyers and the end users of illicit drugs.

    He described the instances of drug abuse, especially among the youth, as dangerous and inimical to the socioeconomic development of the nation, stressing we would unconditionally continue to support the fight against the dangerous trend.

    Farouk commended the organisers of the event, describing it as timely and educative.

    Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Daura NYSC Drug Free Club, Mr Mbalisike Stanley, said members were at the palace to inform the emir about the activities of the club in the area.

    Read Also: Emir of Daura seeks prayer for Buhari

    He described the cases of drug abuse among the youth as pathetic and dangerous to the health of the addicts, stressing that a reasonable percentage of mental challenges in the area was attributed to drug abuse.

    Malam Sani Mohammed, an NDLEA official in the area, assured the emir that his office would not relent in arresting and prosecuting drug addicts and the barons.

    He said the agency had created an operational synergy with the Nigerian customs on how to check the instances of importation, sales and consumption of controlled drugs and other narcotic substances.

    The news men reports that the Daura emirate recently inaugurated a local committee that would check in cities and villages the instances of abuse in drugs.

    NAN

  • NDLEA arraigns 58-year-old alleged drug baron

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday arraigned a 58-year-old alleged drug baron before a Jos Federal High Court for illegal possession of tons of hard drugs.

    The Jos based accused, Jude Okoye alias Zuma, was arrested by officers of the agency on June 9, 2017 at his store in Apata quarters, Jos North Local Government of Plateau.

    Okoye is being tried on an eight-count charge of unlawful possession of 1, 372Kg of Tramadol drug, 1, 089 Kg of cough syrup containing codeine, 28. 3 Kg Diazepam injection.

    Also in his possession was 16Kg of Pentazocine injection, all alleged to be Psychotropic substances similar to cocaine and heroin.

    Others substances allegedly found in his possessions include; 18Kg of cough syrup containing codeine, 200gm of Lorazepam tablets, 250gm of Tramadol and 100gm of Pentazocine Injection.

    The NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Mr Buhari Abdullahi told Justice Dorathy Agishi that by possessing such hard drugs the suspect had committed offences contrary and punishable under sections 19 of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation 2004.

    When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution prayed the court to commence trial.

    “My Lord, the frightening aspect is that most of the hard drugs found in the accused possession are expired drugs, which if they find their way into the market would have posed serious danger to the lives of innocent Nigerians, ” he said.

    Two officers of the NDLEA gave testimonies of the arrest and substances found in the possession of the baron.

    Mr Etsu Daniel, the agency exhibit keeper told the court the exact quantity of each of the substances found in Jude’s possession and presented them to the court as exhibits.

    Mr Umar Shettiem, the defence counsel, cross examined the witnesses on their testimonies against his client.

    The prosecution later sought for adjournment to present more witnesses.

    Justice Agishi has adjourned the case to April 23 and 24 for continuation of hearing.

    NAN

     

  • NDLEA destroys drugs worth N10b in Edo

    NDLEA destroys drugs worth N10b in Edo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) Edo Command on Friday destroyed illicit drugs valued at more than N10 billion in Benin.

    Retired Col. Mohammad Abdallah, the Chairman of NDLEA who supervised the exercise, said that the quantum of drugs being destroyed clearly called for state of emergency over drug situation in the country.

    Abdallah said approximately 137,000 kiligrammes of illicit drugs were destroyed, noting that
    the figure was double the total figure recently destroyed in FCT, Oyo and Kano states.

    The chairman said 20 tonnes of drugs were destroyed in FCT, 14 tonnes in Oyo and 50 tonnes
    in Kano, while a whopping 136 tonnes destroyed in Edo.

    He added that the quantity showed that drugs had become unacceptably pervasive in many parts of the country, with attendant implications on health, security and integrity of the nation.

    He stressed that the connection between drugs and violent crimes was beyond any controversy, adding that this was because cannabis, tramadol and other psychoactive substances were often recovered in virtually all terrorist camps by the military.

    Abdallah expressed concern over the increase in space of forest being used for the cultivation of cannabis sativa in the state.

    Read Also: NDLEA to tackle use of prohibited substances by youths in FCT

    He explained that in 2017, the state command destroyed 40.06 hectares of suspected cannabis plantations, while 37.9 hectares was destroyed in 2016.

    He noted that the diversion of land to cannabis cultivation instead of food and economic crops remained a serious threat to food production in the country.

    The state Commander of NDLEA, Mr Buba Wakawa, said it was sad that Edo was one of the highest cannabis producing states in the country.

    Wakawa said that the problems of drugs and substance abuse in the state were of serious concern to the command.

    He added that school age children were found to be using drugs even at an early age of 13, saying
    this had affected the rate of school dropout, divorce, rape, as well as teenage pregnancy.

    The commander said the event marked the last stage of drug enforcement circle which started with intelligence gathering, raid operations, investigation, successful conviction and finally execution of the court order for the destruction of confiscated drugs.

    The quantity of drugs destroyed was the largest in the history of drug control in the country, he stressed.

    Wakawa said cannabis sativa accounted for 136, 437.73 kilogrammes of the figure, while cocaine, heroin and other psychotropic substances accounted for 0.0139 kilo grammes, 0.0084 kilogrammes and 406.7 kilogrammes.

    NAN