Skip to main content

NDLEA nabs 162 suspected drug traffickers

NDLEA operatives

NDLEA operatives

Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, the Head, Public Affairs, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says no fewer than 162 suspected drug traffickers have been apprehended in the last eight years.

Ofoyeju made this known on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, official figures of the NDLEA showed that about 162 suspected drug traffickers were apprehended at the nation’s airports with 982.42kgs, almost a ton of methamphetamine between 2009 and March 2016.

He noted that there had been a phenomenal rise in the recruitment of unemployed youths as drug peddlers.

“Mass production of methamphetamine was responsible for the increase in the number of persons in prisons on drug related offences both within and outside the country.

“Methamphetamine production poses a serious threat to humanity because of the toxic nature of chemicals used. The toxic waste generated pollutes the environment.

“About three to six pound of toxic waste is created for every one pound of methamphetamine. This can contaminate the water table and affect plants and mankind within the production areas.

“A regular laboratory contains phosphoric reagents capable of igniting spontaneously on exposure to air and carcinogenic chemicals having the potential to cause cancer,’’ he said.

He explained that local consumption of methamphetamine was currently low as it was more profitable to sell in Asia and Europe where prices are higher.

“Efforts must therefore be intensified in tracing more clandestine laboratories in the country,’’ Ofoyeju said.

He reiterated NDLEA’s commitment in the fight against drug trafficking.

He said that the Chairman of the Agency, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd), had assured Nigerians that he was committed to the total dismantling of drug trafficking organisations.

“Abdallah has vowed to trace and shut down all methamphetamine production laboratories in the country.

“The assurances given by him is very encouraging considering his vast experience in security intelligence and the political will of President Muhammadu Buhari to eradicate illicit drugs from the country,’’ he said.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pope not involved in Colombian peace deal- Vatican

Pope Francis Pope Francis has turned down a request to play a role in the peace deal between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. The Vatican in a statement issued on Wednesday in in Vatican City said that an invitation was sent to his Holiness in early August to appoint a representative to participate in the committee that selected the judges for the talks. The statement said that though Pope Francis supported the peace process, he, however, reiterated that he would not get involved in Colombian peace deal. It said that Pope was praying for the enlightenment of the hearts and minds of those who were called to promote the common good of the Colombian nation. A deal was announced last week, putting an end to five decades of internal conflict between government forces and the FARC rebels. The agreement, which needed to be ratified through a referendum in Oct. 2, would entail setting up a special court to grant amnesties or pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...
Post a Comment
Read more