As Nigeria joined the world in marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said that it had successfully arrested 46,087 suspected drug traffickers and seized 1,310,860.348kg from 2006 till date.
Cannabis has the largest share of the seized drugs with 1,284,341.896kg.
Cocaine is next with 16,746.629kg, psychotropic substances are 9,128.747kg while heroin is 643.076kg.
A total of 9,782 persons were also convicted during the period.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the commemoration of the 2012 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on Tuesday, said that Nigeria will continue to protect its citizens from the menace of drugs.
Anyim said: “Drug is a big threat to our national security. The Agency is making progress and I am particularly pleased with the removal of Nigeria from the drug majors list which has further strengthened our relations with the United States. With a strong anti-drug Agency, every citizen is protected against the ills of illicit drugs.”
He was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Research and Development, Mr. Ferdinand Agwu.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, stressed that government will not relent in bringing the drug problem under control.
According to Adoke, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Pius Oteh: “I salute your gallantry and assure you that our fallen heroes in this crusade will not die in vain. I shall work assiduously with the NDLEA management to ensure that there is continuous improvement in staff conditions of service. The hardwork of officers shall be complemented by effective enforcement of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws and lengthy jail sentences for persons who contravene our anti-drug laws.”
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Country representative, Ms Mariam Sissoko, said that the current theme reinforces the role communities can play in addressing the drug challenges in society.
In her words: “Drug trafficking flows have global dimensions. The flows link regions and continents, sometimes with dramatic consequences for the countries they affect. Because of this, UNODC is building integrated regional programmes, as well as promoting interregional and inter agency responses.”
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Ahmadu Giade, said there is hope for a better tomorrow.
Giade said: “This is one commemoration that we are undertaking with a clear sense of hope rather than the despondence that sometime characterized our commemoration. Hope because all the efforts, both human and material resources and other forms of sacrifices put into the endeavour of ridding our society of drugs are not only beginning to germinate but are already bearing fruits. On this note, I say Nigeria is winning the drug war.”
The NDLEA boss noted that the era when holding the country’s international passport attracts extra search was past and forgotten.
In his words: “The commitment of our officers in the recent past has brought the Agency to the limelight. This commemoration therefore is an expression of our determination to strengthen action and cooperation to continue to achieve the goal of the United Nations Member states of an International society Free of Drug Abuse and Trafficking.”
The Agency disclosed that it has made unprecedented arrests and seizures of narcotic drugs including the uncovering of two clandestine laboratories for the production of methamphetamine in Lagos State.
“Three Bolivians working at one of the illegal drug factories were arrested and are currently facing trial alongside their Nigerian accomplice. Our air, land and sea boarders are becoming increasingly difficult for drug cartels to penetrate due to our intense surveillance operations,” the chairman stressed.
Major drug trafficking syndicates have been incapacitated while more drug trafficking networks are being dismantled.
Giade said: “We have succeeded in infusing elements of drug abuse education into the relevant subjects in the Basic Education and Senior Secondary School Curricula, Tertiary Institution Curricula as well as the Curriculum of Adult and Non-Formal Education Sector,”
The highpoint of the commemoration was the public presentation of three books titled: “Drug Abuse Prevention and Management in the Workplace”, “Drug Abuse Not My Child” and “Drug Abuse Weep Not Mummy,” written by an officer of the Agency, Dr. Martin Agwogie.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs.”
The Agency disclosed that it has close working relationship with the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Norway, France and Switzerland.
Dignitaries at the event included the United States Ambassador, Mr. Terrence McCulley; the Director General National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhi; and the Executive Secretary of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba among others.