Tag: NDLEA

The Dein of Agbor, Delta State, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchuku Gbenoba, has sought the partnership of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to end drug activities of drug dealers in his kingdom.

This was as he has met with the Chairman/Chief Executive of the

Director, Media and Advocacy, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement made available to reporters.

The monarch said, “We’ve been having some issues with drug dealers in Agbor. We’ve tried to handle it once or twice, but we’d like to at least be able to provide some land to have NDLEA come to Agbor. My main hope is Gen Marwa right here.

“Everything he touches turns to gold. Since he came on board at NDLEA, you people were reinvigorated. And I have seen that since he came on board, the drug dealers are now more hesitant, and we need more of that. So, we continue to learn from his experience and continue to make sure that this Agency is strengthened as much as we can.”

The monarch said his desire to bring NDLEA into his kingdom is to eliminate the activities of drug dealers and protect his people from the devastating effects of illicit substances destroying the lives of youths and adults all over the world.

He said his partnership with the NDLEA is to send a strong message to drug dealers that their time is up in his kingdom.

“I always try to tell criminals that life is left and right, good and bad, up and down. If you are intelligent enough to be selling drugs, then you deserve to go to jail. You deserve to be incarcerated because that intelligence can also lead you to be selling houses or to be selling goods.

“Do something that doesn’t affect people negatively. Because every drug dealer doesn’t want their children taking these hard drugs. But they don’t mind their neighbour next door taking such drugs. It is destroying us as a nation.

“Kidnappers are now using these illicit drugs to go about their nefarious activities. The reduction of it in our society will bring down the crime rate, robberies, and so on.

“So, my message to the drug dealers, beware, you are on notice; we do not want you in Agbor; we do not want you in our country,” he said.

The monarch also has words of caution for those abusing illicit drugs.

Read Also:NDLEA arrests 60 in Abuja drug party

“For those who are taking drugs, once you have taken them, it is a life-or-death decision you are making. You can take it for the first time, and you can die. You destroy your family, and you destroy the people around you. So, as much as possible, choose life over death on these drugs”, he admonished.

Welcoming the monarch to his office, Marwa expressed the readiness of the Agency to collaborate with all stakeholders including traditional rulers and community gatekeepers to ensure that the scourge is stamped out from communities across the country.

“We’re at the moment deploying our personnel to the local government areas to establish our presence at the grassroots to further our advocacy against substance abuse and enforce the law against those dealing in illicit drugs at that level.”

“Towards that, we met with the leadership of ALGON last week to make this process seamless and we welcome the support and partnership with all stakeholders for successful implementation of all our drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, through a whole of society approach”, the NDLEA boss stated.

…as Marwa commends judiciary, says no hiding place for barons, traffickers

A drug trafficker, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, who was arrested and prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court.

The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, July 2.

This comes three months after vomiting and 80 wraps of cocaine following his arrest by operatives of the Agency at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.

Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday 31st March while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name: Carr Bismark.

He was taken for a body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs.

Babafemi said preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort.

According to the statement, obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.

The statement reads: “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.

Read Also: NDLEA arrests 60 in Abuja drug party

“The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in the Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivered the consignment in India.

“He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos in charge number FHCL/378/2024 for committing an offence contrary to section 20(1)(b) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004. Delivering his judgement on the case on Monday 1st July 2024, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without an option of fine.”

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for the fast and diligent handling of the case.

He said the judiciary remains a strong pillar in the coordinated and concerted effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

He said Ogbonna’s conviction will further send a strong signal to his ilk that there will be no hiding place for drug barons and their mules.

•Agency intercepts N7.35b drugs consignments •Two excrete 150 cocaine wraps in Lagos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested 60 suspects at a drug party held at an apartment in Abuja.

Its Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said: “In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Friday night disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison”, where 60 suspects, comprising 25 males and 35 females, were arrested at an apartment in Sun City Estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The raid followed credible intelligence about the drug party organised by one Stanley Ikechukwu who was arrested at the venue.

“Six of the suspects – Victoria Adoga; Hamza Yari; Joanne Essein Joy; Socchima Valentine; Jago Imole; and Charles Indobuibisi – were arrested with  various quantities of ecstasy and cannabis.’’

At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, he added, the agency intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth N7.350 billion.

Read Also: National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Babafemi stated that the seizure, made from six containers the previous day, was the third of such in the past one month.

This, he said, followed tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA, which worked with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the agency and other security agencies, including the Customs Service.

According to the statement, at the end of the joint examination of the six containers, a total of 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 157,500 kilogrammes were recovered. 

Also, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, arrested two passengers travelling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of Terminal 2 after they tested positive to ingestion of illicit substances on June 21.

He said the suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were thereafter taken into custody for observation.

He said while Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662grammes in five egestion.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday launched the ‘Save Our Families’ campaign, a renewed initiative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to strengthen the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the NDLEA in its fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, admonished Nigerians to join the fight against drug abuse. He also hailed NDLEA’s efforts and the success of its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative.

He spoke during the 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, themed ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention’. The day was celebrated simultaneously across all the states.

The president affirmed that investment in prevention is a prudent way of safeguarding the future, adding that allocating more resources to evidence-based prevention programmes will break the cycle of drug abuse and protect the youths from becoming prey to the menace.

He said: “Prevention not only saves lives, but also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation. It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.

“I enjoin all and sundry to support the WADA campaign launched by NDLEA three years ago. I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country. I also reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed Hope Agenda places the youth at the centre of its focus. Therefore, we ensure that our young ones are protected from anything that can derail their future or destroy their potential.”

NDLEA Chairman Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) said the ‘Save Our Families’ is designed to prevent and tackle drug use through early detection and intervention by making the agency’s newly produced special drug test kits a necessity in every home, schools and workplaces.

“The agency has introduced the Drug Integrity Test initiative anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian. The test is intended for secondary school pupils, students of tertiary institutions, workers in government and private offices and individuals seeking political offices, as well as prospective couple before taking their marriage vows.

“The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status for appropriate intervention, including treatment and rehabilitation.”

‘NDLEA has secured 9,000

convictions, arrested 52,901 suspects’

According to the Chairman, NDLEA has secured 9,000 convictions and arrested 52,901 suspected drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in the last three years.

He said the agency’s offensive has resulted in the seizure of over 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.

Justifying the theme for this year’s celebration, Marwa said efforts to achieve a drug-free Nigeria are being led with preventive steps, one of which has been blocking distribution channels.

He said: “The imperative to invest in prevention is dictated by evidence-based results that have shown that prevention is far more cost effective than dealing with the consequences of drug use disorder.

“Drug use prevention lies at the heart of our strategy in addressing the drug problem because it is far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences. As part of the reforms being undertaken in the agency in the last three years, with the support of the Federal Government and various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention programmes.

“In consonance with the theory of Demand and Supply, we have employed a balanced approach in our prevention efforts by making sure that Drug Demand Reduction efforts complement the supply reduction efforts. Just as we invest resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, we are also not relenting in cutting off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks.

“The magnitude of our effort is reflected in the statistics of our drug supply reduction activities. We have arrested 52,901 traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and half years. Over 9, 000 of the suspects have been convicted in court. We have also seized 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances.

“We have also destroyed about 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms.”

The chairman however said the agency is also planning an alternative development programme to persuade cannabis farmers to grow cash crops instead, with incentives attached.

According to him, the programme is crucial, as the 2018 national drug use survey revealed that 10.6 of the 14.3 million drug abusers in Nigeria, aged 15-64, abuse cannabis.

The agency’s drug demand reduction efforts have also yielded significant results, with over 33,453 counseled, treated, and rehabilitated across its  30 rehabilitation centers nationwide.

Read Also: CBN insists on enforcement of stringent criteria for bank recapitalisation

“This is a significant achievement for Nigeria, and a testament to our commitment to a drug-free society. We will continue to intensify our efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and to bring drug criminals to justice,” Gen. Marwa added.

 Review of NDLEA Act

A Group, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), called for a review of the NDLEA Act.

The recently proposed amendment by the Senate to the NDLEA Act prescribed death penalty as punishment for drug offenders.

Executive Director of HBBA Oluwafunke Adeoye said Nigeria would be moving against global tide and aligning itself with 34 countries that maintain such harsh penalties for drug-related crimes, and the third African country to do so if it imposes death penalty for drug offences.

According to Adeoye, Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have high execution rates, still face serious drug problems. She also said a review of data from Southeast Asia, including countries like Singapore and Indonesia, shows that the death penalty has not led to a substantial reduction in drug trafficking.

Adeoye noted that tke proposal represents severe setback for human dignity and criminal justice reforms in the country. She thus urged lawmakers to focus on stoppage of production and importation of the drugs, and also ensure strict security checks at the ports.

State of emergency on illicit drugs

The Edo State House of Assembly called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on substance abuse and illicit drugs trafficking in Nigeria.

The Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, made the call while addressing a rally organised by Smile Africa International Youth Initiative, an NGO, to mark the 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse.

He said: “I am sad and concerned about the drug abuse pandemic in the country; and we should be passionate about the health of our youths.”

Agbebaku, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Maria Oligbi-Edeko, said a state of emergency was the only solution towards tackling the menace.

The Executive Director of Smiles Africa International Youth Development Initiative, Purpose Iserhienrhien, said they were at the assembly complex in support of the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state.

Iserhienrhien said the day affords them the opportunity to call for collective action to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Establishment of mental health unit

Plateau State Commissioner for Health Cletus Shurkuk said the government will establish a mental health department to tackle the rising spate of drug abuse.

According to him, the department will be at the fore in combating factors that predispose people, especially youths to drug abuse.

“According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Plateau had a prevalence of 11 per cent rate of drug abuse in 2023,” he said.

Shurkuk noted that drug abuse prevention was the most suitable and cost effective way than the rigors and pain of rehabilitation, thereby breaking the cycle of drug related crimes and violence.

…says agency destroys 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, and obtained over 9,000 convictions of suspects in the last three years.

The chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), disclosed this on Wednesday, June 26, in his welcome address at the occasion of the 2024 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

Counting the achievements of the NDLEA under his watch in the last three years, Brig. Gen. Marwa said the agency’s offensive action has resulted in the seizure of over 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.

According to him, the agency’s success in prosecution is a testament to its commitment to bringing drug criminals to justice, adding that with a conviction rate of over 70%, NDLEA has secured convictions for 9,000 suspects, including drug lords and cartels.

Justifying the theme for this year’s Day, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, the NDLEA boss said efforts to achieve a drug-free Nigeria are being led with preventive steps, one of which has been blocking distribution channels.

“The imperative to invest in prevention is dictated by evidence-based results that have shown that prevention is far more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of drug use disorder. Because, after all, prevention is better than cure. 

“At NDLEA, drug use prevention lies at the heart of our strategy in addressing the drug problem as it is: far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences. As part of the reforms being undertaken in the Agency in the last three years, with the support of the Federal Government and various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention programmes.

“In consonance with the theory of Demand and Supply, we have employed a balanced approach in our prevention efforts by making sure that Drug Demand Reduction efforts complement the supply reduction efforts.

“Just as we invest resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, we are also not relenting in our effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks. After all, when you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and sundry criminals who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities.

“The magnitude of our effort is reflected in the statistics of our drug supply reduction activities. We have arrested 52, 901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and half years. Over 9, 000 of the suspects have been convicted in court. We have also seized over the same periods 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances”, he said.

Read Also: NDLEA arrests 100 suspects

In addition, the NDLEA has launched an offensive operation targeting cannabis farms at the source, saying that the effort has led to the destruction of about 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.

He, however, disclosed that the agency is also planning an alternative development programme to persuade cannabis farmers to grow cash crops instead, with incentives attached.

Marwa said the programme is crucial, as the 2018 national drug use survey revealed that 10.6 million Nigerians aged 15-64 abused cannabis, out of a total of 14.3 million drug abusers.

“An aspect of our offensive action operation also targets cannabis sativa at source to prevent it from reaching our cities and streets. In this regard, we continually locate and destroy cannabis farms deep in the forests where they are cultivated. So far, we have destroyed 1, 057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.

“As we speak, we are also ramping up plans for an Alternative Development Programme, which aims at persuading cannabis farmers to accept and grow cash crops and forgo the cultivation of the psychoactive plant.

“Of course, this will go with certain incentives.  Alternative Development is very important when we consider that out of 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 that abused drugs as per the last national drug use survey of 2018, 10.6 million of them actually abused cannabis”, he said.

Marwa further said the NDLEA has established an inter-ministerial committee known as the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), initiative, aimed at strengthening the coordination of drug control efforts in the country. 

According to him, the committee, which he chairs, comprises relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, crucial to drug abuse prevention, including the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Education, Women Affairs, Information, Youths, and agencies like NAFDAC and NACA, among others.

This inter-ministerial approach aims to share best practices, mobilize resources, and tackle the multifaceted challenge of drug abuse.

NDLEA’s efforts have been recognized by international partners, including the European Union, UNODC, and the US-DEA, among others. The agency’s collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest and prosecution of Nigerian drug traffickers abroad.

The agency’s drug demand reduction efforts have also yielded significant results, with over 33,453 individuals counselled, treated, and rehabilitated in NDLEA’s 30 rehabilitation centres nationwide.

“This is a significant achievement for Nigeria and a testament to our commitment to a drug-free society. We will continue to intensify our efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and to bring drug criminals to justice”, said Brig. Gen. Marwa.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved $1.442 million for the procurement of arms, ammunition and  equipment for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to boost its anti-narcotics operations. 

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr Lateef Fagbemi, who disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the FEC meeting, also informed his ministry submitted three memoranda on behalf of the NDLEA to Council. 

According to Fagbemi, Council also approved N1.9 billion for the purchase of 33 CNG-compliant vehicles as well as N985 million for the procurement of two full body scanners for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. 

He said the other two approvals were also in favour of the NDLEA aimed at making the agency’s operations smooth. 

“We discussed some other items today, three items in respect of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, otherwise known as NDLEA. The first one is the procurement of 33 Mikano Maxus E60 motor vehicles, to boost the operation of the NDLEA at N1.9 billion. 

“You will agree with me that it is important that we give support to the activities of NDLEA so the Council considered this and gave approval for the purchase of 33 Mikano vehicles and they are all CNG compliant. 

“The second one is, again, purchase for the NDLEA this time is for the procurement of arms, ammunition and antiriot equipment for counter-narcotics operations for the NDLEA. This is for the sum of $1.442 million.

“The third in the series is the procurement of two units of full body scanners at both Abuja and Lagos international airports to boost the operation of the NDLEA. This is at a cost of N985 million”, the Minister said.

Read Also: NDLEA arrests 149 suspects in Kogi

The FEC has approved a ban on the use of single-use plastics, also known as on-the-go plastics, in all federal ministries, agencies, and departments. 

Minister of State for Environment, Iziak Salako, who disclosed this at the post-FEC briefing at the State House, explained that the move is in line with the 2022 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing the triple crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

According to the Minister the ban aims to reduce plastic waste, which is a significant contributor to flooding, ocean pollution, and human health issues. 

“The Federal Ministry of Environment proposed and the Federal Executive Council approved that a ban be placed on the use of on-the-go plastics, what we know as single-use plastics, in all ministries, agencies and departments of the federal governments. This is in line with the 2022 National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.

“We must say that the discussion in EXCO was very smooth because all members of EXCO including Mr President was very enthusiastic about this ban. This ban is also in line with the commitment of Mr. President to ensure that Nigeria plays its part in ensuring that the triple crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss is frontally address.

“As you know, plastic is one of the key challenges that we face when we go to our drains and when we talk about the issue of flooding, we find out that plastic waste is heavily incriminated. We also find out that plastic pollution is a major issue in our oceans, is a major issue affecting human health affecting our environment.

While the ban is currently limited to federal government institutions, it is seen as a precursor to a nationwide ban on single-use plastics by January 2025, as outlined in the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.

“First, let me just say categorically, again, for purposes of clarity. The ban is for federal government ministries, agencies and departments, it is not nationwide. However, this is, in a way preparatory, if you look at the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which was adopted in 2022, it envisaged that by January 2025, some categories of plastics will be banned in Nigeria and most of them are single-use; plastic spools, straws, PET bottles, pure water sachets, and so on and so forth. 

“So what the federal government is doing is preparing the minds of Nigeria and leading by example. When you see this thing being done in the federal ministries and agencies, it will convince you that it is possible, as a matter of fact, I can tell you that in the Federal Ministry of Environment, we started the ban since January 2024 and it’s been largely”, the Minister said.