NDLEA seizes 10.5 tonnes of illicit drugs in North-East Nigeria

* Identifies the nexus between illegal drug business, terrorism

* Challenges Nigerians to be vigilant at all times

Isola Moses

In its continued drive to discourage drug trafficking, and unlawful cum indiscriminate use of substances that are potentially damaging to the health of Nigerian consumers, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Borno State Command, has uncovered 10.522 kilograms of compressed ‘cannabis sativa’, also known in local parlance as “wee wee”, allegedly concealed in a warehouse in Maiduguri, the state capital.

ConsumerConnect learnt that Col. Muhammad Abdallah (Rtd.), Chairman, NDLEA, disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr. Jonah Achema, Head, Public Affairs of the agency, and made available to newsmen Monday, in Abuja, FCT.

A suspect was also arrested in connection with the drugs, according to the statement.

Col. Abdallah (Rtd.) described the discovery of the illicit drugs, which were contained in 183 giant size bags as the “single largest seizure within the North Eastern States”.

Agency report also stated that the NDLEA boss said that the warehouse, located at Ungwan Doki, Maigadari Ward, adjacent the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency, consisted of a three-bedroom and three-room Boys’ Quarters.

Certain Modu Fanami, who lives in the compound with his wife and two children, was arrested in connection with the banned substance, he disclosed.

“Fanami admitted that he served as the errand boy to one Uche (now at large) who is the real owner of the drug business.

“A Gulf Car used by Fanami to take delivery of each consignment from the point of arrival to the warehouse was also seized by the agency.

“The agency has launched a manhunt for the arrest of those behind the criminal merchandise,” Abdallah said.

He further noted that the seizure was sequel to weeks of painstaking surveillance and monitoring of the suspects and their illegal drug business in the area.

He added that the latest seizure is likely to have links with multinational drug syndicate cartels and the Boko Haram insurgents in North-Eastern Nigeria.

It could not be ruled out that the drugs were for onward shipment to the bordering Niger, Chad and Cameroon because of the quantity involved, the NDLEA boss observed.

“Nigerians need to wake up from their slumber and rise up to the challenge of drugs if this quantity can be found in Borno State where Cannabis is not cultivated and knowing the nexus between drugs and terrorism.

“Then, our communities cannot afford to be passive, but be actively involved in drug control efforts. Vigilance is the word!” He said.

Incidentally, Abdallah also related that NDLEA publicly destroyed 100,143.218 Kilograms of drug exhibits, mainly Cannabis sativa in Badagry, Lagos State, recently.

The drugs were recovered within the period of five years by the agency’s eight operational formations in Lagos, covering land borders, sea and airports, he said.

“The agency also closed the year 2019 with the destruction of 181.2 tonnes of cannabis during its Operation Thunder Strike IV, which combed the forests of Ondo and Edo States where the cannabis were harvested and stored for onward movement to the drug market,” Abdallah disclosed.

The NDLEA Chairman assured members of the public that the agency would sustain its crackdown on the illicit drug market across the country.

“We will ensure that the agency did not only disrupt the activities of those behind the heinous drug crime, but will dismantle their networks and defeat them ultimately,” he added.