NDLEA destroys N50bn illicit drugs in Abuja
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday in Abuja destroyed assorted illicit drugs worth about N50bn. Speaking at the event, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said the public destruction and burning of the 20 tons or 19, 598kgs illicit drugs is a further affirmation of the anti-narcotic […]
The Ona of Abaji, Adamu Yunusa (left), with dignitaries, during the public destruction and burning of illicit drugs by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command in Abuja yesterday
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday in Abuja destroyed assorted illicit drugs worth about N50bn.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said the public destruction and burning of the 20 tons or 19, 598kgs illicit drugs is a further affirmation of the anti-narcotic agency’s resolve to wage war against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
“We may recall that when President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign of the NDLEA on June 26, 2021, he declared that, “WADA should not just be a slogan, but a call to civil action by all Nigerians.”
Today (Tuesday)’s public destruction of 20 tons of illicit drugs and substances, further buttresses that call to action,” Marwa said.
Some of the destroyed drugs were seized by the FCT Command of NDLEA, comprising 19,178kgs of cannabis; 0.1 kgs of cocaine; 0.009kgs of heroin and 420kgs of other psychotropic substances.
“The remaining 362kgs, seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, comprised 173kgs of cocaine, 36kgs of heroin, 93kgs of ephedrine, 60kgs of methamphetamine, 58 grams of cannabis, 219 grams of Rohypnol and 150 grams of Tramadol.
“Just as we witness the public destruction of these 20,000kgs of assorted illicit drugs and substances today, let me bring to your notice that similar exercises have taken place in many states across Nigeria this year,” he said.
Marwa, represented by the agency’s Secretary, Mr Shadrach Haruna, said the illicit drugs and psychoactive substances were seized by the FCT and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport commands of the agency.
He said: “This is yet evidence that NDLEA is relentless in its effort to ensure the safety and well-being of Nigerians. This exercise is taking place in accordance with the prescription of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) concerning the best method of disposing seized drugs without polluting our environmental ecosystem or endangering public health.”