The agency today stands out like an lroko tree, providing shelter, protection and operational succor to Nigerians and other security agencies like the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Customs Service. Its operational tentacles are felt in every nook and cranny of the country. In recent times, the agency has heightened its investigation and operations by striding and stamping its feet on the cloudy affairs of drug barons. It is a known fact that drugs are the crucial motivator of criminals like armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists. With drugs, the milk of human kindness fizzles out. Records show that the agency had intercepted N7.3bn codeine consignments as two excreted 150 cocaine pellets in Lagos and arrested 60 suspects at an Abuja drug party.
Also in Edo State, 18,632kg of cannabis was impounded and destroyed in a forest.
Like a moving truck in first gear, operatives of the agency became uunstoppable in their zeal as they also impounded a Tacoma truck loaded with imported Loud in Lekki, Lagos State.
Again, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency used their well coordinated intelligence network and intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid worth over N7,350,000,000.00, at Onne port complex, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In fact, the seizure made from six containers on the 29th of June, 2024, was the third of such in the past four weeks of intensive and credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of the agency, which worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the agency and other security agencies, including the Customs Service, for a 100 percent joint examination of the targeted containers.
Impressively, all these operational activities took place while the organization was celebrating its establishment day, when many would have thought the personel would rest on their oars.
In another development, officers of NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, arrested two passengers travelling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of Terminal 2 after they tested positive to ingestion of illicit substances on June 21, 2024. The suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were thereafter taken into observatory custody.
While Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance, with a total weight of 662 grams.
Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany, a decision he claimed he took to get Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.
Over 40.32kg of Loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis, was recovered on June 28, 2024, in a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road when the driver jumped out of the vehicle, after noticing that NDLEA operatives were on his trail.
In Sun City estate, in Abuja, a night party organised by Stanley Ikechukwu was disrupted by NDLEA operatives as 60 suspects, comprising 25 males and 35 females, were apprehended and tested for drugs.
Again 18,632.22kg of cannabis found in a forest in Ugun LGA was destroyed, while four persons were arrested.
In the same vein, commands and formations of the NDLEA across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, along with sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The chairman commended the Rivers State command for the seizures and reiterated that, no matter the ingenuity of their modes of trafficking, the dedicated workforce of the agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners, will always be steps ahead to expose them and thwart their tricks. He enjoined the officers and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
It is now very clear why the President openly declared his government’s unrestrained support for Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) and his men in their onerous bid to rid the country of illicit drugs and stop the peddlers from ravaging the country. The evil effects of narcotic drug substances cannot be underestimated, if we should visit countries being ravaged and destroyed by these drugs. Unfortunately, Nigeria is being mentioned among countries like Afghanistan, Mexico, Syria and others that are under the scourge of drugs.. Had the Nigerian government turned its face away without any positive action while the drug war persisted, then the world would see the Tinubu government as complicit. Thank goodness the government has shown its resolve to ensure that whatever is needed to win the drug war would be provided to the agency. In retrospect, Nigerians have severally applauded the role of the NDLEA’s officers who have exhibited good conscience and outstanding moral discipline in the face of huge bribe offers in the course of their duties. The trained operatives had severally arrested top security officers and politicians who offered bribe to them, which is a plus for the agency and this examplary patriotism should not go unrewarded with national certificate and award with a presidential handshake. This would further encourage others to think of their country first instead of their pockets. Now that the three levels of development have been completed, which are dedication and willingness by the agency and its personenel to wage war against the drug barons and peddlers, with the appreciation of the majority of Nigerians, who are ready to join hands with NDalEA, then the most important part is government’s support. Now that the entire country is willing and ready to join hands with President Tinubu to eradicate hard drugs from the country, the agency has mapped out new strategies, which the government has approved. According to the NDLEA chairman, the agency has introduced a nationwide drug test, which is anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian. The test is intended for secondary school students, students seeking admission into tertiary institutions and returning students, workers in government and private offices and individuals seeking political offices as well as prospective couples before taking their marriage vows. The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status of drug use for the purpose of appropriate intervention, including treatment and rehabilitation.
The drug integrity test, which has been adopted by some government institutions and tertiary institutions across the country, is a preventive mechanism.
“As a result, the agency has produced tens of thousands of special test kits capable of detecting 15 different substances, which are now available in all the commands across the country. This would be used in all homes, schools, workplaces and others. Apart from helping in early detection of drug abuse especially by the youths so that they can get help in form of treatment, this will also create some deterrence effects.”
According to Marwa, it is far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences. This is how we know a futuristic leader who has built up the agency under his watch to be the hope for Nigeria.
(Concluded )