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Over 2,180 drug traffickers arrested by NDLEA within five months –Marwa

Ezekiel Johnson
Ezekiel Johnson
NDLEA: Crush all drug cartels, Marwa charges newly promoted officers
Marwa

No fewer than 2,180 persons have been arrested in connection with drug trafficking while over two million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs have been seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, within five months.

Also, 500 convictions have been recorded while 1,549 cases are pending in court in connection in connection with drugs.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja a press briefing on the occasion of this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

Marwa said the achievements followed the offensive launched against drug cartels across the country about five months ago when he took over as the head of the NDLEA.

His words: “The Agency’s offensive action against drug cartels across the country launched some five months ago, has yielded over 2,180 arrests of drug traffickers and the seizure of over 2 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs. We have filed at least 2,100 drug cases in court, recording over 500 convictions with 1,549 cases pending in court.”

Marwa seized the opportunity of the occasion to warn those involved “in the trafficking of illicit substances; the cartels, barons and traffickers, that it is time for them to quit or face a tough consequence.”

He said the theme for this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, “Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives,” was very significant considering the unquantifiable and enormous danger posed by substance abuse.

According to him, abuse of narcotics had incapacitated the workforce of organisations and ruined communities and societies.

He said it had also brought about family disintegration, decimated the capacities of youths and given rise to all types of crimes such as insurgency, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, rape and violent extremism which had befallen nations including Nigeria with attendant health consequences on the users.

“The dynamism of the drug problem has made it imperative for us to continue to deepen our knowledge and understanding of this deleterious conundrum. In this regard, sharing facts about drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics, as captured by this year’s theme, will go a long way in shedding some light on hitherto hidden factors that aid predisposition to substance abuse, especially the question of new psychoactive substances.

“Drug abuse as an enabler of all forms of criminality is a hydra-headed monster that must be crushed if we must move forward as a nation. The solution lies in having hyper-efficient anti-drug machinery, which is what the NDLEA stands for.

“Since my assumption of office as Chairman/CEO in January this year, we set machinery in motion to reposition the Agency. I am glad to report to you today that after five months, we are making a definite headway in repositioning the NDLEA for efficiency and effectiveness,” Marwa said.

He said the NDLEA under him had succeeded in boosting the morale and confidence of officers and men of the agency through practical steps taken to address welfare and career stagnation issues.

To that end, he pointed out, among other measures, a bi-monthly assessment and cash-backed award for Best Performing Commands to motivate officers and men on the field had been activated.

“Recently, the agency promoted 3, 506 officers who have stagnated in the past years, some for upward of 10, 15 and even 20 years on one rank. One person actually stayed 21 years on one rank,” he said.

While appealing to the citizens for their full co-operation, he said that the war against drug related crimes could only be won with their support.

He added: “I also thank our sister agencies, stakeholders, foreign partners and the media for their support. The drug war must be won. With your support, our victory is assured.”

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