…announces seizure of over 300 million kilograms of narcotics drugs
Innocent Onoh
Nigerians have been urged to unite in efforts to eliminate the use of illicit drugs thereby preserving the future of children and promoting socioeconomic wellbeing nationwide.
The Commander of Narcotics,National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA , Tincan Island Port Strategic Command, Lagos, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju made the call during the command’s annual awards ceremony to recognize outstanding officers in the fight for a drug-free Nigeria.
He emphasised that most societal vices, including domestic violence and insecurity, can be attributed to illicit drug abuse, making its eradication imperative.
During the event, which was also to review the activities of the command last year, Mr. Ofoyeju stated that the command achieved a significant milestone by seizing 339,576.91 kilograms of illicit substances, including cocaine and heroin, valued at One hundred and thirty-four points two billion Naira.
The commander listed the breakdown as follows: codeine 305,323.37 kg; tapentadol 13,370 kg; tafradol 11,230.8 kg; benzhexol 5,888.8 kg; cannabis indica 3,601.25 kg; methamphetamine 83.301 kg; cocaine 56.39 kg; and heroin 23 kg.
Ofoyeju revealed that during the year under review, 38 drug suspects, including one female, were apprehended, with twelve of them convicted, while no fewer than 26 cases are pending at the law courts; observing that the feat has brought relative calmness in the country.
“The year 2024 presented us with many challenges, but through teamwork, strategic planning, and intelligence-led operations, we have achieved remarkable milestones by disrupting the illicit drug trade, promoting community engagement, and deepening collaboration with stakeholders.
“Drugs and crime are intertwined. It is either the cartels are using proceeds of drugs to fund their acts of criminality or they rely on the influence of drugs to perpetrate heinous activities. This obviously underscores the crucial role of the NDLEA at the seaports in disrupting drug supply chains and mitigating the impact of criminal acts in our communities.
“In January last year, we detected narcotic drugs, firearms, and ammunition in one container. The command will remain vigilant in protecting our country from the painful grip of kidnapping, gruesome murder, and related crimes that are aggravated by drugs.
“As frontline gatekeepers, we understand that these seizures and arrests have significantly contributed to the relative peace enjoyed by citizens across the length and breadth of our beloved country. It has equally enhanced a conducive environment for the ease of doing business in the maritime industry.
“Our mandate is to encourage legitimate commerce and eliminate any act of criminality that is injurious to economic growth. This is our modest contribution to national security, and we will leave no stone unturned until Tincan Island port is completely impenetrable by the drug trafficking cartels.
“In addition to enforcement measures, the NDLEA also focused on public education through the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign. This involves community awareness programs to educate the public about the dangers of drug trafficking and abuse.”
Mitchell stated.
While emphasizing that it is the collective responsibility of everyone to achieve a drug-free Nigeria, Ofoyeju attributed the success of his command to the unwavering dedication of the agency’s highly trained and motivated staff.
He pointed out that recognizing outstanding workers has been a tradition of the command to promote excellence, as he also stressed the determination of the NDLEA to adopt best practices that will put its officers ahead of the drug traffickers.
The award recipients included the Most Productive Officer-in-Charge of the Year won by ACN Adefunke Akindele, Most Enterprising Officer of the Year won by ACN Muje Stephen, WADA Facilitator of the Year won by ACN Salihu Isa Machi, and Most Dedicated Officer of the Year won by CSN Audu Samuel, while the Best Dressed Officer of the Year went to SNA Mohammed Musa.
The commander also presented the Best WADA Media Partner of the Year to Mr. Davidson Iriekpen of This Day Newspapers for his tenacity and dedication to anti-drug abuse public enlightenment.
In a presentation, Assistant Commander of Narcotics Mr Isal Salihu, highlighted the command’s multifaceted approach, which encompasses not only the removal of drugs from society but also the arrest, and prosecution of those involved.
Isal Salihu disclosed that the majority of the confiscated drugs originated from countries such as Canada, India, and South Africa, which have legalized drug use.
He emphasized that to achieve success, every container and country is treated as a suspect.
The high points of the occasion were the presentation of award plaques to the officers behind the historic drug seizure and launch of the inaugural edition of the Tincan Strategic Command quarterly newsletter, aimed to inform stakeholders of the command’s operations, community engagement activities, and significant achievements while promoting greater collaboration in the fight against drug abuse.
.High-ranking officers of sister agencies, including Immigration, Police, DSS, and Port associations, graced the occasion.