The Chairman of the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has revealed that fifty,901 drug offenders together with 46 barons have been arrested within the final three years.
Marwa additionally stated inside the interval, the company efficiently prosecuted and convicted 9,034 of them in addition to seized over 7,561 tonnes of illicit substances.
The NDLEA boss stated the event has despatched the best message to drug cartels and their kingpins that Nigeria received’t tolerate their legal actions.
He acknowledged this in Lagos on Monday, in his remarks on the commissioning and handing over ceremony of an operational facility constructed and donated to NDLEA by the British authorities, based on a press release by the company’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi.
Marwa counseled the beneficiant assist that may additional increase the potential of the anti-narcotics company in tackling the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
He revealed that it was a major milestone within the ongoing battle towards the scourge of licit and illicit drug trafficking. He expressed gratitude to the British Authorities for his or her unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions to the trigger.
The NDLEA additionally famous that from the onset of their collaboration, the UK has been a steadfast ally within the relentless pursuit to neutralise transnational organised legal actions, significantly within the realm of illicit drug manufacturing and trafficking.
Marwa stated: “This constructing advanced stands not solely as a bodily construction however as a logo of the enduring partnership between our two nations within the world battle towards drug trafficking. It represents the fruits of years of cooperation, mutual belief, and shared dedication to fight one of the vital urgent threats to our societies.
“The importance of this challenge can’t be overstated. It would function a significant hub for information evaluation and strategic planning in our efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and apprehend these accountable. With state-of-the-art services and know-how at our disposal, we’re higher outfitted than ever earlier than to deal with this advanced and ever-evolving problem head-on.
“However past the bricks and mortar, this constructing advanced embodies the spirit of collaboration and solidarity that defines our partnership with the British Authorities. It’s a testomony to what may be achieved when nations come along with a shared function and a shared dedication to creating our world a safer place for all.”
He added, “As an company, NDLEA has undergone an amazing reformation, with its metamorphosis catalysed by companions just like the UK. Our operations have undergone substantial reforms, leading to outstanding achievements inside the final three years.
“Throughout this era, the NDLEA achieved important milestones in its mission to fight drug trafficking and abuse. With a complete of fifty,901 arrests, together with the apprehension of 46 drug barons, our company has demonstrated its unwavering dedication to bringing these concerned in illicit drug actions to justice. Moreover, the conviction of 9,034 offenders underscores our relentless pursuit of accountability and deterrence within the battle towards drug-related crimes.
“Our seizure of seven,560,748.5 kilograms (7,561 tonnes) not solely disrupts the move of unlawful medicine but in addition serves as a major blow to the legal networks answerable for their distribution. We now have taken decisive motion towards illicit drug crop cultivation with our search-and-destroy marketing campaign towards hashish plantations which have led to the destruction of 1,057.33348 hectares of hashish farms prior to now three years.”
Whereas acknowledging officers of the British authorities who facilitated the realisation of the challenge particularly Mr. Dave Carter, the NDLEA boss referred to as for the strengthening of the partnership between Nigeria and the UK.
“As we stand on the edge of a brand new chapter in our partnership, allow us to reaffirm our shared dedication to intensifying the battle towards drug trafficking and organised crime. Allow us to proceed to work hand in hand, throughout borders and limits, to disrupt legal networks, intercept unlawful medicine, and convey to justice those that search to revenue from the illicit drug commerce.”
Marwa added that although a lot had been achieved underneath his management of the company, the battle towards illicit medicine was removed from over.
He stated, “Allow us to redouble our efforts, with renewed vigour and dedication, as we attempt to construct a safer, safer future for generations to return.”
Talking on the ceremony, the British Deputy Excessive Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, assured of continued assist to NDLEA and Nigeria.
He stated, “We, the UK authorities are delighted to have this long-standing relationship with the NDLEA and I’m particularly delighted to have been personally in a number of actions particularly your maritime. This constructing makes an entire set of various actors and capabilities to handle any legal exercise.
“We’re delighted to proceed our assist for the NDLEA and the Nigerian authorities to deal with what is unfortunately a world business, which wants a world response. I’d like to affix the chairman in affirming our continued assist, our continued cooperation and certainly our continued pleasure in working along with girls and gents of this company, the NDLEA.”
Recall that PUNCH On-line reported in January 2024 that the Akwa Ibom State Command of the anti-narcotics company secured 68 convictions in 2023. https://punchng.com/ndlea-secured-68-convictions-in-aibom-commander/
The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs Obot Bassey, stated the command, throughout the interval, arrested 195 suspects, comprising 159 males and 36 females and seized medicine weighing 1, 267. 24kg price tens of millions of naira.
