THE African Council on Narcotics (ACON) has commended the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for its unrelenting efforts in the war against narcotics and psychotropic substances in Nigeria. The commendation followed the September 18, 2022 operation by the agency in what appears to be the biggest single cocaine seizure in its history.
The agency last Sunday successfully raided a major warehouse in a secluded estate in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State where 1.8 tons, or about 1855 kilograms, of the drug were impounded. The street value is estimated at $278,250,000, the equivalent of N149.7 billion.
According to a statement signed by its President, Rekpene Bassey, ACON noted that the only other time the agency made such a huge seizure was on December 23, 1993, when one Joe Brown Akubueze was arrested for importing 258 kilograms of heroin in 649 packs from Bangkok into the country, through the Apapa wharf. The substance was neatly wrapped in transparent polythene and embossed with the figure 666. The street value was estimated at N44 billion.
“Needless to say, last Sunday’s operation was well coordinated following a string of undercover investigations and actionable intelligence. Consequently, several drug barons have been apprehended in the operation, including a Jamaican, Kevin Smith, and his Nigerian collaborators,” it stated.
The Council however raised some posers as to how, when, and from where such large quantities of narcotics found its way into the country. It wondered if the drug was produced in Nigeria, but observed that coca plants, from which cocaine is produced from, are not cultivated and processed in Nigeria.
“Assuming therefore that the drug was smuggled into the country, why was it that the various security operatives representing official security agencies at our air, land, and marine borders were not able to prevent it from being smuggled into the country? Could there be other secret drug depots in other locations within the country? Why did it take so long to uncover and execute the Ikorodu raid,” the statement queried.
The Commission requested for a thorough investigation to be carried out to unearth all relevant facts and obtain other leads on the subject. It advised the Federal government to re-double its efforts in the fight against illicit drugs given the prevalence of substance abuse and the damage it is causing among the youth, many of whom have taken to the drug culture. “This is besides other damaging sociological consequences of the drug scourge on the nation,” it added.
Institutions such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and other government agencies were urged to strengthen control and preventive measures to reduce the availability of dangerous drugs derived from pharmaceutical products; while calling for the establishment of a specialized agency that can cater to the growing number of drug addicts in the country.
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