The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has
arrested 3,478 people in the last five months over
drug-related offences.
The agency said it also apprehended a suspected
drug kingpin, Chukwunwendu Ikejiakwu, aka Blessed,
after 13 months of “high level surveillance.”
The NDLEA explained that Ikejiakwu led an
international drug trafficking organisation that
recruited and sponsored drug couriers to China,
Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.
The Chairman, NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, stated this on
Friday in Abuja during the inauguration of the
National Drug Control Master Plan 2015-2019.
According to him, the arrests were in addition to the
discovery of cannabis farms measuring about
126.721 hectares and three laboratories, bringing the
total number of laboratories uncovered in Lagos and
Anambra states from 2011 till date to 10.
Giade said, “Between January and May 2015, the
agency arrested 3,478 drug suspects and seized
170,341.704 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs. The
drugs are cannabis (167,461.826 kg), cocaine (103,848
kg), heroin (17.976 kg) and psychotropic substances
(2,619.195 kg.)
“The agency also discovered cannabis farms
measuring 126.721 hectares. A total of 783 cases
have so far been won in court.
“NDLEA just apprehended a suspected drug kingpin
after 13 months of high level surveillance. The
suspect, Mr. Chukwunwendu Ikejiakwu, aka Blessed,
was found to be the brain behind three clandestine
laboratories and a leader of an international drug
trafficking organisation that recruits and sponsors
drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.”
Giade restated the dangers of drug trafficking to
public health, peace, safety, and the socioeconomic
and political stability of the country, adding that
about 3,403 drug dependent persons had accessed
drug counseling at the NDLEA centers nationwide.
The NDLEA boss urged stakeholders to join campaign
against illicit drug trafficking, abuse and join in the
execution drug control programmes for people with
the problem of drug abuse.
While speaking on the NDCMP, 2015-2019, and the
2015 World Drug report, as well as the 2014
International Narcotics Control Board report, the
Director-General of the National Agency For Food
and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii,
represented by the Director of Human Resource
Management in NAFDAC, Mrs.Yetunde Oni, said it
was to ensure availability of controlled substances
exclusively for medical and scientific purposes, while
preventing their diversion.
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