WORLD DRUG DAY:Drug barons seek fame, they shall be dressed in shame-Giade

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is marking the 2015 world drug day in a grand style. The United Nations General Assembly through resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987

unanimously adopted June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Ahmadu Giade who flagged off the commemoration with the public destruction of forfeited drug exhibits in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja said that Nigeria has recorded significant achievements worthy of celebration.

The theme for 2015 campaign is Let’s Develop, Our Lives, Our Communities, Our Identities Without Drugs. In his address during the destruction of 13,500kg or 13.5 tons of drugs; the NDLEA boss said that the destruction exercise was timely. “This event is so important because the drugs we fail to destroy today will destroy our community tomorrow. NDLEA shall go after the drug barons and bring them to justice. No individual is above the law. We shall equally investigate and confiscate drug proceeds” Giade stated.

He vowed to frustrate the efforts of drug cartels in the country. “Drug barons seek for fame but they shall be dressed in shame and reproach. They want to be influential but they shall be humiliated. We must condemn criminality and celebrate honesty. The Agency will continue to work towards a drug-free society. Security screening at all exit and entry points have been intensified. This will further make it difficult for drug traffickers to smuggle drugs in the country” Giade stated.

He also assured that the Agency shall educate youths to resist being used in perpetrating crime. In his words, “the era where youths are manipulated by drug barons to smuggle drugs are over. NDLEA shall continue to build the capacity of our youths to develop their identities with a sense of dignity and national pride. There shall be series of enlightenment programmes for our youths. We must engage them in the process of national growth and development”. He urged parents to I urge parents to be vigilant and monitor their children against drug trafficking and radicalisation.

He disclosed that the effects of drugs are devastating and we cannot afford to treat it with kid gloves. “Between 2010 and 2014 the Agency arrested 41,148 drug suspects comprising 38,534 males and 2,614 females with 1,113,769.569kg of drugs. The drugs include cannabis 959528.83kg, cocaine 1765.374kg, heroin 533.841kg and psychotropic substances 151941.524kg. The Agency also won 8,637 cases in the past five years”.

The breakdown of the drugs and seizures is as follows; 2010 is 178,120.73kg of drugs with arrest of 6,296 males and 492 females. 2011 is 195,283.9kg of drugs with 8,072 males and 567 females. 2012 is 233,699.64kg of drugs with 7,510 males and 524 females. 2013 is 339,968.11kg with 8,324 males and 519 females. 2014 is 166,697.18kg of drugs with 8,332 males and 494 females. Breakdown of convictions is as follows; 2010 is 1,509 cases won. 2011 is 1,491. 2012 is 1,718. 2013 is 1,865 while 2014 is 2,054.

Some spectacular drug seizures made by the NDLEA includes 14.2 metric tons of cocaine imported from Chile and intercepted in June 2006 at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos. The drug was concealed in shipment of white cement. At the time of this seizure, it was rated the single largest seizure of cocaine in Africa and fifth largest in the world.

There was 450.400kg of cocaine hidden in processed wood was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos in July 2010. The consignment was imported from Chile by two foreigners, a Taiwanese and a Chinese. In November 2010, 137.73kg of heroin was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos. The heroin was imported from the Republic of Iran hidden in industrial equipment and sewing threads.

In January 2011, 165kg of cocaine was packed in 150 square parcels inside 38 cartons of floor tiles. The drug originated from Bolivia but was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos. Similarly, 110kg of cocaine was detected inside twenty-five (25) packs of floor tiles containing 4 parcels each also at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos also in January, 2011. The drug was packed in a 20 feet container of floor tiles and cement that originated from Bolivia.

Again, 113.49kg of heroin industrially concealed in three moulding machines imported from Islamabad, Pakistan in a 20 feet container was intercepted at the Tin Can Island Port Lagos in May 2012. The shipment was monitored and intercepted by NDLEA officials at Okota, Lagos while being taken to a private warehouse.