Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa Rtd., says West Africa remains an important transit region for narcotics, mostly emanating from South America.
Marwa said this at the inauguration of a marine facility donated by the British Government to the agency in Lagos on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility is to bolster capacity of the anti-narcotic body within the maritime space.
The facility is also expected to further tighten the noose on drug barons and cartels within the volume of recent arrests and seizures of illicit substances on the waterways and seaports.
Marwa expressed his appreciation to the British High Commission in Nigeria for believing in the project.
He said the timely delivery of the project and the high standard of the finished work were a testament to the British government’s commitment and support to NDLEA’s operations..
“Not quite long ago, a similar edifice, completed with state-of-the-art fittings, was handed over to NDLEA by the British Government at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
“There has also been a series of capacity-building initiatives and provisions of equipment by the Home Office International Operations, which have bolstered the capability of the agency’s personnel and have enhanced phenomenal drug seizures and arrests.
“According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, over 80 per cent of the volume of international trade is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for developing countries.
“This is equally true of illicit drug trade because maritime routes have long been exploited by drug traffickers due to the vast expanses of the open sea and the complexity of maritime laws and jurisdictions.
“The illicit drug trade via maritime channels poses severe threats, not only in terms of drug proliferation but also because of its links to organised crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.
“Recent records from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime indicate that West Africa remains an important transit region for narcotics, mostly emanating from South America.
“We have had at least four trafficking cases in the last two years involving merchant ships (aside from cases of drugs concealed in cargo containers) from South America to Nigeria.
“The cases are evidence that the maritime corridor provides mobility for illicitly trafficking activity” he said.
Marwa said the recent operational successes recorded by the NDLEA on the waterways and seaports justified his decision to upgrade the marine unit of the agency to a full-fledged command in 2022.
“We did not make a mistake when, in 2022, we upgraded the Marine Unit to a full-fledged command. Our balance sheet of arrests and seizures of drugs within the maritime space has maintained an upward swing.
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“The collaboration of the agency’s Marine Command with other maritime law enforcement agencies has resulted in the interception of 61,688.79 kg of varying drugs and the arrest of 41 suspects, 15 of whom are already prosecuted and jailed.
“Through our various port operations in the last three years, the agency has seized at least 750 tons of illicit drugs ranging from cocaine to codeine, tramadol, methamphetamine and Loud, to mention a few,” he stated.
While expressing joy that the Marine Command Headquarters facility that started as an idea had crystallised into a physical structure being inaugurated, Marwa appreciated all stakeholders that made the project a reality.
He, however, expressed his appreciation to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for his inestimable goodwill, which had created a conducive operating environment for all NDLEA commands.
He equally appreciated the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their synergy with NDLEA.
He said that the synergy between them and NDLEA was instrumental to the streak of success within the maritime space.
In his remark at the occasion, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter, justified why the British government was supporting the work of NDLEA
According to him, it is also a delight to see such a wide range of people here at this event.
“This is because from my perspective, that shows the level of commitment that we see from our Nigerian partners and colleagues to what is the really critical work carried out by the NDLEA in tackling drug trafficking.
“We in the UK support that work for a number of reasons. We’ve seen an increase in drug detections both in Nigeria and in the UK and so that shows us two things.
“Firstly, that there is a clear need for us to work together, to work collaboratively to tackle drug trafficking; but it also shows that our efforts are paying dividends.
“We are jointly preventing more and more drugs crossing borders and we are disrupting more and more gangs.
“And that is important for both our populations, both our countries; but it’s mostly important actually for the people whose lives are disrupted by this crime.
“But as we all know, there is more work to do and it will definitely continue” he said.
Speaking earlier, Sanwo-Olu, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Abimbola Salu Hundeyin, said the NDLEA’s presence in Lagos had been pivotal in curbing the illegal drug trade.
“Your efforts have not only protected our citizens, but also enhanced the overall security and well-being of our state.
“Today’s commissioning of the NDLEA Marine Command Headquarters, generously donated by the British government, marks a significant milestone in our collective fight against drug-related crimes.
“It highlights the importance of international cooperation and strategic partnerships in tackling the global challenge of drug trafficking, especially in coastal areas like Lagos.
“I, therefore, on behalf of our government and the good people of Lagos State, extend my sincere gratitude to the British government for this invaluable contribution,.
” It will further bolster NDLEA’s capacity to more effectively patrol our waters and intercept illegal drug activities” the governor added.(NAN).
