67,345 Traffickers Arrested, 12,415 Convicted, 11.2m kg of Illicit Drugs Intercepted in 54 Months – NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that the agency arrested 67,345 drug traffickers, convicted 12,415, and intercepted 11.2 million kilograms of illicit drugs in the last 54 months.
The Charman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed this while delivering his keynote address at a seminar themed “Dangers of Drug Abuse, Cultism and Banditry Among Youths”, held in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, on Saturday.
The seminar was organised by the Ijebu Ode Council of Olorituns in Ogun.
“We have intensified our war against drug trafficking and abuse. Nationwide raids have led to significant seizures and arrests, which we share weekly on our official channels. In the past 54 months, we have arrested 67,345 traffickers, including 95 barons, and 12,415 of them are presently serving various jail terms.
“The barons we have arrested are not anonymous people in society. They include big business people and socialites—some of them have chieftaincy titles—and also government officials, including those tasked with maintaining law and order. That tells how deeply the rot had eaten into the fabric of our society,” Marwa said.
He continued: “Within the period, we have seized more than 11.2 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms mostly in Southwest States where some people are cultivating cannabis on a large scale, utilising land that should have been used for other cash crops for illicit crops. We are also scaling up our Drug Demand Reduction programmes, including school outreaches, community sensitisation and rehabilitation initiatives.
“We have within the same period conducted 11,584 sensitisation lectures in schools, work places, worship centres, motor parks, palaces of traditional rulers and communities, while 27,187 drug users have been treated and rehabilitated through our 30 rehab facilities across the country in addition to thousands of others who have benefitted from the psychosocial support services provided on our toll free helpline: 080010203040.”
Marwa called for the support of stakeholders, including community leaders and security agencies to curb the social vices.
“We cannot do it alone. We need communities like Ijebu-Ode to partner with us, to speak up, to report suspicious activities and to support our advocacy drives.
“Moreover, security architecture must be enhanced at the grassroots level. Local vigilante groups, properly trained and coordinated, can serve as the eyes and ears of the community, working closely with law enforcement agencies to disrupt cult gatherings and prevent violent incidents,” the NDLEA boss remarked.
He added: “We must rekindle the moral and spiritual fabric of our society. We must remind our youth that there is dignity in labour, pride in learning and honour in integrity. The path to greatness is not paved with shortcuts of violence and drugs, but with hard work, vision and purpose.”
