Tag: Illicit drugs

’15 million Nigerians are on drugs’ – Marwa

Aminu Imam

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (rtd.), yesterday raised the alarm that about 15 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 are involved in the intake of illicit drugs. While expressing concern that the staggering statistic is nearly three times the global average, Marwa, who described the figure as unacceptable, revealed that one in every seven Nigerians in the age bracket consumes drugs. Marwa, who made the disclosure yesterday, during a courtesy visit with his entourage to Ondo…

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‘Economic hardship fuels drug abuse in Nigeria’, as NDLEA vows crackdown

Aminu Imam
NDLEA vows crackdown

The worsening economic situation in Nigeria is driving more youths into drug abuse, prompting a renewed crackdown by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA). According to a published report,  in Enugu State, many young people, unable to sustain themselves in urban areas, have returned to their villages, only to find life equally challenging. Frustration has led many to seek solace in drugs and alcohol, worsening an already growing crisis. The Enugu State government has announced plans to establish NDLEA operational bases in all 17 local government areas to combat…

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Over 250 containers of illicit drugs, narcotics identified across several Nigerian ports

Aminu Imam
NSA RibaÉ—u declares war

…As NSA RibaÉ—u declares war on illicit drugs  Over 250 containers of Tramadol and other dangerous substances have been uncovered at Nigerian ports, prompting National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu RibaÉ—u to declare an all-out war on drug trafficking. A multi-agency committee, including ONSA, Customs, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the Army, has been established to investigate the origins and owners of these substances, confiscate and destroy them, and ensure the safety and security of the nation’s ports and borders. Drug abuse is a key driver of violent crimes and insecurity, posing serious…

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Rivers: NDLEA intercepts N4.4bn in codeine shipment from India

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA)  has recovered 636,600 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth N4.4 billion in street value, at Port-Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State. According to a statement issued by agency spokesman Femi Babafemi yesterday in Abuja, the drugs were intercepted in shipments from India on December 9, 11 and 13. He said the seizures were made during a joint examination of four containers by NDLEA officers, men of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other security agencies at the port. This, Babafemi said, was made possible following…

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Africa’s illicit drug use to hit 40% by 2030, UNODC warns

Aminu Imam
UNIDO

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, (UNODC), has predicted a 40 percent increase in the use of illicit drugs in Africa by 2030. In an issued statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Wednesday, after a press conference to kick off the week-long activities to celebrate the ‘2024 International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking‘, in conjunction with other stakeholders like the UNODC. UNODC Country Deputy Representative, Danilo Campisi, said the projection is based on the population of young people…

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NDLEA intercepts 3 trailer-loads of opioids, others

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

?…Arrests suspects ??Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has intercepted three trailer loads of opioids, comprising 3,450,000 pills and 344,000 bottles of codeine syrup, at Abule-Ado, in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos State, on Thursday. The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in an issued statement yesterday, adding that three suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure. The statement partly read: “The multi-billion naira consignments were loaded into two 40-ft container trucks and another 20-ft truck at the AML bonded…

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Tinubu vows to safeguard Nigeria from becoming illicit drug trafficking hub

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu has vowed to ensure that the country was not turned into a minefield of illicit drug trafficking. Tinubu said this at the 31st conference of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Africa (HONLAF), hosted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday, in Abuja. The President also expressed Nigeria’s commitment towards ensuring a world not threatened by illicit drug abuse and trafficking. Tinubu, who was represented by his Deputy, Kashim Shettima, promised that his administration would continue to provide the necessary support, motivation and tools…

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NDLEA seizes N56.9m illicit drugs in FCT, arrests 343 suspects

Aminu Imam

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command, have intercepted about 3,091.032 kilogrammes of suspected illicit drugs with a monetary value of over N56.9 million between January till date. FCT Commandant of the agency, Kabir Tsakuwa, disclosed this in an interview with the men yesterday in Abuja. According to Tsakuwa, the illicit drugs seized included suspected cannabis sativa, cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Diazepam, Ecstasy, and Megadon. He also stated that 343 drug suspects were arrested within the period under review, adding that they comprised 328 males and…

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NDLEA uncovers cocaine warehouse, seizes N194bn worth of crack in Lagos

Aminu Imam

…Presumed biggest in agency’s history In what appears to be the biggest singular drugs seizure in the history of Nigeria’s premier anti-narcotic agency, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), have busted a major warehouse in a secluded estate in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. This was made known in an issued statement by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, yesterday. According to Babafemi, 1.8 tons (1,855 kilogrammes) of the illicit drug worth more than $278,250,000, which is about N194.775 billion in street value, were seized.…

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NDLEA uncovers N22bn consignment of illicit drugs from Abba Kyari, syndicate

Aminu Imam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has said that the ongoing investigation of a billionaire drug baron, Chief Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has led to the discovery of how the suspect imported into Nigeria in a single month, October 2019, two containers containing 1,284 cartons of Tramadol, with a market value of over N22billion. The Agency stated this in a statement yesterday, to counter insinuations by some hirelings that NDLEA has no evidence to pin a crime on Ukatu, who is the Chairman/CEO of Mallinson Group of companies. After months…

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