Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said the agency has seized over 6,668 tonnes of illegal drugs in the last two years.
Marwa stated this in response to Gov. Dikko Radda’s appeal for collaboration and the deployment of more NDLEA officers to all sections of Katsina.
This was said by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Friday in Abuja.
Marwa further stated that over 36,096 individuals had been apprehended and over 6,043 had been prosecuted and convicted within the same time period.
He stated that the drug problem was a massive problem that has wrecked the lives of many Nigerian youngsters and communities.
In his words:
“It is the public enemy number one, and especially the criminal aspect of it, because 99 percent of criminals must first have access to drugs and be under the influence to perpetrate some of their acts.
“That is why the NDLEA, under the collective support of the directorates and management, has put all efforts towards operation ‘offensive action’.
“This operation involves going out to seize all drugs cultivated, imported, or on the verge of being exported out of the country.
“More than 6,668 tonnes of illicit substances have been seized in two years, and this is the drug supply reduction aspect.
“We have also arrested the perpetrators of the act, and more than 36,096 suspects have been arrested and more than 6,043 have already been prosecuted and convicted within this period.”
Marwa stressed the importance of drug demand reduction, which focuses on the prevention, treatment, and aftercare of drug-addicted individuals.
“The preventive measure targets those who have not started or are about to start drug use.
“They are targeted through advocacy and sensitisation across all levels.
“It is for this reason we structured the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative from the national to Local Government Area (LGA) levels,” he added.
He pledged that the agency would work tirelessly until the streets were drug-free.
cc: Vanguard Ng
