NDLEA busted 4,736 traffickers in one year

“Between August 2010 and June, a UN report also shows that the anti-narcotics agency seized 156, 330kg of illicit drugs.” 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has in the last one year arrested 4,736 persons for drug related offences in Nigeria.

A country report by the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), presented on Tuesday at the 21st Meeting of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Africa holding in Addis Ababa, said the arrests were made between August 2010 and June 2011.

The report showed that more than 156,330 kg of illicit drugs were seized within the period. “The illicit drugs are classified thus: Cocaine 480.92 kg, Cannabis Sativa 155,249.86 kg, and Psychotropic Substances 419 kg,” stated the report.

The report also stated that about 744.84 hectares of Cannabis Sativa farmlands were destroyed during the period, adding that Cannabis Sativa has continued to pose significant challenge to Nigeria’s drug control efforts.

“The international airports remain the main centres where frequent seizures are made in the country, especially Lagos and Abuja International airports, while major Cannabis seizures are carried out in the hinterland,” stated the report.

The report also recalled that Nigeria made its first discovery of a clandestine drug laboratory in June 2011, which has the capacity of producing between 120 kg and 200 kg of amphetamine per day.

It stated that Nigeria has successfully prosecuted 992 drug offenders within the last one year. “These persons were convicted for the offences and sentenced to various jail terms, including two foreign nationals from China and Taiwan,” stated the report.

The report said international collaboration and joint operations had led to the seizure of two 20-ft containers stuffed with 110 kg and 165 kg, respectively, of cocaine, at different times in January 2011. It said both containers were from Bolivia and the seizures were made through intelligence sharing with international collaborators.

It stated that another 138.73 kg of heroin from Iran was also intercepted through intelligence sharing. The report also said collaboration between NDLEA and the United Kingdom Serious Organized Crime Agency resulted in the arrest of the drug recipient in Nigeria.

-By Jewel Stephen 

Source: DailyTimes