N2bn worth illicit drugs destroyed in Akwa Ibom – NDLEA
EMERGENCY DIGEST- The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has destroyed 2.768 tonnes of illicit drugs estimated at over N2bn in Akwa Ibom State.
Ekikere Umoh, the press secretary to the Deputy Governor in the state, Moses Ekpo, in a statement on Thursday, confirmed the development.
He said the Chairman, NDLEA, Mohammed Marwa (retd), who was represented by the agency’s secretary in the state, Shedrach Haruna, during a courtesy visit to Ekpo at the government house in Uyo, listed the destroyed drugs to include cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin, and other psychotropic substances.
During the visit, Umoh said the NDLEA representatives stated that the drugs were seized between 2014 and September 2021, adding that the destruction was in line with the agency’s Act which mandated it to take measures for the destruction of seized narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The representatives were said to have also reassured that the agency would not rest on its oars to rid the country of the menace of hard drugs, adding that NDLEA was not only involved in the arrest and prosecution of drug offenders, but also tackling the scourge through aggressive drug awareness and sensitisation programmes for vulnerable youths and other groups.
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While appreciating the federal and state governments and other partners for their support in the fight against illicit drugs, the NDLEA representatives requested for a land from the state government for the construction of a staff barracks for the command as well as the establishment of Drug Free Clubs in schools in order to curb the menace.
Responding, Ekpo, while acknowledging the positive report-card of the agency, commended Marwa, noting that his appointment has positively altered the performance narrative of the agency nation-wide.
He said efforts of the NDLEA had resulted in the upsurge of drug seizures, arrest and convictions at critical drug corridors across the country, adding that the Akwa Ibom Command made a recent arrest and seizure of 90 kilograms of substance suspected to be Amphetamine, and other seizures.
“This has obviously rubbed-off on the Akwa Ibom State office, with the result that we have been able to effectively contain the challenges of drug abuse and illicit trafficking,” Ekpo said.
He urged the federal government to further empower the NDLEA with more funding to enable them to not only give support to state offices, but procure needed work tools for a revolution in the fight against unhealthy drug use.
Ekpo said, “I call on Nigerians to team up with the government in the war against drug-use and illicit trafficking. The negative implications of drug-abuse are far-reaching, including adverse effects on the health of our people, avoidable road accidents and drug-related criminality.”
