The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed narcotics worth N9.2billion.
The public destruction of the narcotics took place over the weekend at the Agency’s office at Badagry.
Ahmadu Giade the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA used the occasion to call for the implementation of fifteen years minimum sentence for drug culprits in line with the NDLEA Act.
The NDLEA boss who supervised the public destruction of the narcotics said that stiffer punishment will help to reduce drug trafficking and its illicit use in the country.
He said the destroyed narcotics weighing about 7,970.8182kg were seized in Lagos state alone by officers of the agency in 2010 and the first quarter of the year.
The public destruction of the narcotics which was done by burning was witnessed by both local and international stakeholders including the Commanding Officers of the Nigeria Army at Badagry, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Africa Police attaché in Lagos and other heads of security agencies in the country.
Mr. Giade described the event as a victory for the Agency and for humanity in the fight against illicit drugs. Cocaine and heroin weighed 705.7913 kilogrammes; cannabis is 7,169.0194 kilogrammes while psychotropic substance is 96.0075 kilogrammes.
“The NDLEA will continue to frustrate the sinister activities of drug cartels in the country. In line with our practice, we are gradually using constant drug seizures and public destruction of forfeited drug exhibits to emasculate drug barons in our society through our relentless efforts in arresting, prosecuting drug traffickers and the destruction of hard drugs many drug barons have been rendered helpless, more unrepentant ones shall be dealt with in the days ahead as the agency will continue to justify the removal of Nigeria from the Drug Majors list by the United States.” Mr. Giade said.
According to the NDLEA, boss, “Most of the type A drugs seized were destined for Europe and America. Drugs are known to aggravate crime and distort the economy through money laundering with adverse social consequences. Our plan for Lagos and the entire country is to take drugs off the streets and have drug addicts rehabilitated
the Agency will continue to trace cannabis plantations and destroy them before it is time for harvest; identify illicit cannabis warehouses and seize the drugs as well as arrest the drug barons and charge them to court with the final stage of drug supply control chain being the public burning of drug exhibits”Mr. Giade added
The NDLEA boss appealed to stakeholders not to relent in their support for the Agency stating that all hands must be on deck to rid the society of hard drugs adding that the agency is committed to eliminating hard drugs in the country
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