Why NDLEA failed its Cannabis control measure---Experts

By Emeka Ibemere

Experts reviewing this year’s United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2014 World Drug report and International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) 2013 report, where Nigeria top other African countries to be number one in cannabis trafficking, seizures and arrest said the agency responsible for control has failed because of government’s neglect to the agency and less concern to the dangers inherent in drug trafficking and abuse. 

Going by the recently released of The World Drug Report 2014, which scored Nigeria higher than other African countries in cannabis seizure, concerned experts are worried that the trend would result in Nigerians been the most cannabis drug abuser if the Federal government failed to intervene and declared emergency in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),

 Few days ago in Abuja, Capital of Nigeria, during the dissemination meeting for the During the meeting, where the UNODC country representative, Ms. Mariam Sissoko, was at present, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade and Director General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii, were not comfortable when the cat was led out of the bag.

However, Giade stressed that the Agency would continue to intensify its cannabis control mandate, geared towards ensuring a crime free society and peaceful election in 2015. “Cannabis is the common drug of abuse in Nigeria and as the election year 2015 draws nearer, we are fine tuning our strategies to cut off supply and ensure a crime-free election and a healthy society for all” the NDLEA boss stated.

He called on parents to monitor their children and wards, stressing that drug control programmes are more effective when supported by stakeholders.

“Drug control measures are more effective when community leaders, families, media and individuals support anti-drug abuse programmes. Parents must monitor their children to prevent drug use and seek early help for those with substance abuse problems”.

The survey showed that illicit drugs seized in 2013 by the NDLEA weighed 339,968kg with an estimated street value of N34billion. According to the analysis of the seizure, cannabis tops with 205,373kg, psychotropic substances 133,920kg, methamphetamine 340.8kg and cocaine 290.2kg. Others are heroin 24.53kg, amphetamine 19.297 and ephedrine 0.28 grammes. In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counselled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. Additional 802 treated cases were reported by hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria.

According to the reports which were presented by Professor Isidore Obot, Head of Psychology Department, University of Uyo, Nigeria was rated highest in cannabis seizure in Africa. “Nigeria remains the country with the largest seizures of cannabis in the region followed by Egypt,” the report stated. The report added that cannabis is the most prominent drug in offences for possession for personal use. With regards to trafficking offences, Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) is prominent in Asia and cocaine in the Americas.

UNODC country representative Mariam Sissoko stated that this year’s World Drug Report shows that “around 243 million people, aged 15-64 consumed an illicit drug in 2012. Out of this number, problem drug users, those who have most difficulties with drug consumption, account for around 27 million or 1 in every 200 people”.

Speaking on while the country won the medal for the highest in cannabis seizure in Africa,  

Jude Uzoma, a drug advocacy expert said drug control require intellectual resourcefulness, managerial sagacity and professional virility and that for the eight years, NDLEA has carried on with mumbled voice, with the leadership lacking both capital and intellectual to convincingly engage stakeholders that investment in drug control. According to him, the present NDLEA is not visible on any drug matter.

The burgeoning statistics of arrest of drug suspects, drug seizures and convictions exposes the lack of aggressiveness in drug control measures.

Investigations revealed that there are no more rigorous, well structured anti-drug awareness initiatives on a consistent basis. The ones carried out recently was an individual effort of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Drug Salvation Foundation, of one Wilson Ighodalo and musician, called Lamboginny.

The agency is not oblivious of fact that current war against drug trafficking and control measures globally is proactive and preventive; instead of reactive to situations.

Musa Adeoye, a sociologist claimed that instead of working on people's psychology with factual information, on suspects the current drug war in Nigeria was about making enormous provision for guns, hand cuffs and tear gas, so as to fill up the already congested Nigerian prisons.

According to him, NDLEA knows where the cannabis are planted in Nigeria but lack the intellectual capacity, tools, equipment, trained operatives to go to those areas and dislodge the barons.

"The bottom line of drug control is how effective drug supply and demand has been brought under control. It is sad to see today that Nigeria's drug gulf is widening, the mechanical acclaim by Giade, not withstanding", he stated.

 “There is an unprecedented availability of drugs in the streets of Nigeria today than ever before; be it cannabis sativa, psychotropic substances, cocaine or heroin. Compounding this is the alarming prevalence of non-conventional substances of abuse owing to ignorance of the general populace which the NDLEA has ineffectively been unable to cure the people of”.

Another aggrieved staff who said he cannot mention his name for fear of being sacked or maltreated on the why NDLEA failed to control cannabis in Nigeria, stated that he blamed the Federal government on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2014 World Drug report and International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) 2013 report because the federal government is sleeping over making surgical operation in affairs of the agency in decision and changes.

"The growing criminality the nation is experiencing today may be traceable to dogmatism, but drugs remain the greatest reinforcement to criminal activities, be it cultism, gangsters, terrorism and civil strife. Enormous funds are required to fund these vices while the consumption of drugs itself is catalytic to outlandish behaviours,” he said.

“In the last eight years, Nigerians have seen a forest of irregularities in its drug control”.

 Due to the report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2014 World Drug report and International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) 2013 report, NDLEA last week, a combined team of one hundred National Drug Law Enforcement (NDLEA) officers drawn from eight commands jointly raided Wese Forest Reserve and destroyed 184 hectares of cannabis plantations.

The raid operation which lasted 72 hours led to the dismantling of a cannabis syndicate known as AKUNNUBAS. The Treasurer of the group, Eke Sylvester, 37 and five members of the association were also apprehended. They are Friday Julius, 28, Azonobi Godwin, 21, Leke Cletus, 29, Festus Osagie, 30 and Charles Osanebi. Also, the agency apprehended 39 year-old motorcycle parts dealer at Nnewi, Ogbodo Chibuzor David for attempting to smuggle 11.06kg of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis to China.

The suspect who concealed the drugs in various food items was arrested following the discovery of cannabis inside his bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect was to board a Qatar Airline flight when he was nabbed.

“We have apprehended one Ogbodo Chibuzor David with dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. The suspect who deals in motorcycle parts at Nnewi was found with twenty-one parcels of cannabis hidden inside his bags on his way to China. His travel route as contained in his ticket is Lagos to Doha and from Doha to Guangzhou”, Hamza stated.

The suspect told investigators that he wanted to sell the drugs and use the profit to buy motorcycle parts in China.

“I gave a business partner the sum of $30,000, to supply me goods and he disappeared. That brought my business to its knees and I have been struggling to take care of my wife and child since a year ago. I met many people for financial assistance but nobody was willing to help until I was wrongly advised. A friend told me to smuggle cannabis to China,” Ogbodo stated.

He added that he would have made a profit of $10,000 “I bought the cannabis for N200, 000. My friend told me that I would have made a profit of $10,000, selling the cannabis in China. I was only interested in getting money for my motorcycle parts business” the suspect stated. Ogbodo Chibuzor David hails from Enugu State.

Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Giade expressed delight with the arrest noting that the suspect would have faced capital punishment if caught with drugs in China.

“Drug trafficking is criminal and many traffickers have died prematurely. I am glad that we prevented the suspect from facing capital punishment in China,” Giade stated.

He called on members of the public to avoid drug trafficking, the NDLEA boss also assured that the Agency would continue to protect lives of citizens.

In another development, a 35-year-old refrigerator dealer, Alinnor Celestine was intercepted from smuggling 1.1kg of substances that tested positive for cocaine to Germany. The suspect who ingested sixty wraps of narcotics was caught at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with the help of scanning machine during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers.

Mr. Hamza Umar said that the suspect was to deliver the drugs in Frankfurt, Germany. “The suspect who tested positive for drug ingestion was to deliver the cocaine at Frankfurt. While under observation, he excreted 60 wraps of white powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.1kg”.

In his statement, the suspect said that he was only looking for what would sustain his family. “My name is Alinnor Celestine from Imo State. I attended the then Community High School Aba, Imo State and could not further my education due to lack of money. I am married with three children and sell refrigerator parts in Lagos”, he added. “My goods got lost on transit and I am yet to recover financially. I was looking for assistance when I was introduced to drug smuggling. It was my last resort to sustain my family. They assured me that I will not be caught and also promised to pay me the sum of 3,000 Euros. Everything is like a dream to me now”.

Giade called on members of the public to shun drug trafficking and report drug cases to the nearest NDLEA office. “I call on members of the public to always shun drug trafficking and report suspected drug dealers to the Agency. Let us unite in promoting peace and development in our country. I am pleased with the arrest and our officers will remain vigilant to arrest anyone with narcotics at our airports” Giade stated. According to him, all the suspects would soon be charged to court.