Marwa said that the agency also arrested 52,901 traffickers and 52 barons within the period under review, stressing that most of the culprits were high-profile personalities in the society.

That tells how deeply the rot had eaten into the fabric of our society.

He said within the period, they  have seized 8.6 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms.

Also Read: NDLEA arrests Lagos auto-parts dealer for heroine trafficking

According to him, the high number of arrests and prosecutions was a significant achievement, showing the agency’s commitment to tackling the scourge of drug trafficking in the country.

In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Island Club, Rotimi Martins acknowledged Marwa’s unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse.

Martins said that the NDLEA boss’s wealth of experience in tackling the scourge was commendable.

According to him, drug abuse as a menace had infiltrated every layer of the society, threatening our youth, destabilising families, and undermining the socio-economic fabric of our nation.

The post NDLEA secures 9,043 convictions, nabs 52 barons appeared first on Afinju FM.

Addressing journalists at the command in Apapa, Lagos, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Dera Nnadi, added that between January and November 7, 2024, the command collected a total of N1.046tn worth of revenue, stressing that it was the first time the command would achieve that feat in revenue collection.

He maintained that the command achieved this feat in revenue generation through stakeholders’ cooperation.

This is even as he said that 13 containers of illicit drugs would be handed over to officers of the National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control.

He explained that these containers were inspected by multiple agencies including, the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, among others.

Giving details of the seizures, he explained that some of the containers were carrying numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine, barcadin, broncleer, and DSP for throat and chesty cough packaged in 100ml, 200ml bottles per carton.

Others contained, 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg), 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal, 77 packets of cannabis sativa weighing 38.5kg, 532 packets weighing 265.025kg, and 75 packets weighing 37.5kg, Really Extra brand packed in 50mg, 100 packs per carton.

He added that other goods contained in the containers include ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, and Biomal Artesunate Injection among others.

The CAC stated that the drugs originated from countries like India, the United Kingdom, and Canada.Nnadi disclosed that on October 2, 2024, the command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of N682m, adding, the narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers.

Read Also : Apapa Customs collects over N1trn in 6mths

Nnadi dedicated the achievement to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and other officers of the command, and vowed that the command will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at their disposal in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country.

The post Customs intercept 16 containers of illicit drugs appeared first on Afinju FM.

Obi made the call in a series of tweets on X , as the world celebrates the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

He also advised the federal government to invest in rehabilitating those already caught in the web of drug abuse.

The Senate had on May 9, suggested death penalty as the new maximum punishment for drug trafficking, as against previous life imprisonment.  This is as Nigeria with over 200 million people, has shifted from a transit point to a major producer, consumer, and distributor of illegal drugs.

Opioid abuse, notably tramadol, and codeine-containing cough syrups is widespread. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control banned codeine syrup in 2018. While cannabis is locally grown, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs are trafficked, exacerbating addiction.

The proposal, stemming from a Senate report, aims to deter traffickers with the threat of execution.  However, some lawmakers are concerned about the death penalty’s irreversible nature and potential for wrongful convictions.

The bill, previously passed by the House of Representatives without the death penalty provision, requires reconciliation between Senate and House versions before reaching President Bola Tinubu.

The post Mete Out Stringent Punishment To Drugs Traffickers — Peter Obi Tells FG appeared first on Afinju FM.