The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Tincan Island Chapter, said it intercepted 876.453 kilograms of various illicit drugs and controlled substances between January and December 2023.
Announcing this in a statement on Thursday, the Area Commander of the NDLEA, Tincan Island Command, Mohammed Abubakar, said a total of 15 individuals were arrested and prosecuted within the period under review out of which 10 individuals were convicted.
Abubakar said that other intercepted illicit drugs included, “Cocaine, 24kg; cannabis, 852.45KG; tramadol, 0.003KG. The total volume was 876.453KG. There were other psychotropic substances some of which were concealed in the imported vehicle,” he said.
PUNCH Metro gathered that despite the acute health risks associated with its consumption such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular-related illness, a growing number of young people in Nigeria reportedly take the drug. A 2018 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report estimated that 89,000 Nigerians were taking meth.
In a bid to fight this ugly trend, the NDLEA formed the War against Drugs Abuse. The promulgation of Decree 48 of December 1989 was chiefly in response to the rising trend in the demand for and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances which adversely affected the image of Nigerians and Nigeria in the 1980s.
However, Abubakar in the statement explained that in one operation carried out at the Tincan Port, a notable seizure of Cannabis Indica popularly known as Colorado, totalling 161.5kg was made alongside the sum of 22,900 dollars offered as a bribe to the officers of NDLEA.
“Furthermore, several investigations were conducted in collaboration with national and international law enforcement agencies, leading to the identification and apprehension of some of the key players in these drug networks,” he said.
“These combined efforts proved fruitful resulting in the arrest of some of the persons directly involved in the importation, distribution, and sales of illicit drugs, while some were arrested red-handed in connection with the illicit drugs importation attempt,” Abubakar added.
Abubakar said within the period under review, the command embarked on various sensitization and enlightenment activities within and around Tincan Island Port.
“These included advocacy visits to all stakeholders in and around the port, public enlightenment and lectures, rallies, and engagement of traditional rulers and NGOs around the port environment. All the activities were carried out under the aegis of War against Drug Abuse which was designed to reduce the demand and abuse of illicit drugs and psychotropic substances in Nigeria,” Abubakar narrated.
The NDLEA Tincan Island Commander urged licensed customs agents to desist from authorizing third-party individuals to clear cargo under their company stamp.
“The practice automatically makes the company liable for any cargo cleared using its name and stamp. This may become a real problem if illicit drugs were discovered and the company could not provide any tangible information or whereabouts of the owners of the cargo,” he warned.
Abubakar advised that clearing agents have the responsibility to not only adhere to laws but to cooperate with law enforcement agents conducting an investigation.
He vowed that the arrested suspects would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“In line with our mandate and commitment to the rule of law, all arrested individuals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The NDLEA Tincan Special Area Command sends a strong message to all those involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities, there is no haven for criminals in our society. We intend to use every available resource to bring you to justice and put an end to your illegal operations,” he said.
According to him, “The agency urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking to the NDLEA or relevant law enforcement agencies. Together, we can create a safer and drug-free environment for all Nigerians,” he concluded.
