Francis Ugwoke
2 December 2008
Enugu — Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr Ahmadu Giade, yesterday lamented the rising profile of hard drugs related cases in the South-east, saying that the agency had begun an awareness campaign to address the problem.
Giade at a press briefing in Enugu to flag off the South -east Zonal awareness campaign on the prevention of illicit drug crop cultivation said that the South-east accounts for the highest number of drug traffickers in the whole country, adding that the crime is being perpetrated by a few misguided individuals in the society.
According to him, "The South-east from our records has the highest number of drug traffickers in the country. At the Murtala/Mohammed International Airport in Lagos from where the agency arrested 165 suspected drug traffickers between January and October 2008, 95 of them are from the South-east, representing 57.6 percent of the total arrests.
"At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja where 88 suspected drug traffickers were successfully intercepted within same corresponding period, 56 out of those arrested are also from the South East representing 63.6 percent."
He disclosed that what was amazing was that available statistics also show that over 98 percent of drug suspects arrested by his agency at the airports were found to have ingested deadly drugs like cocaine and heroin.
"Unfortunately, they engaged in this suicidal and ignoble act for 'peanuts'. Sadly enough, they realised that their action not only endangers their precious lives but also brings the image of our country to disrepute, " he said.
Giade disclosed that between January and October this year, a total of 1,138 suspects were arrested with a total of 2, 877.911 kilogrammes of various narcotic drugs, which according to him were mainly cannabis.
He disclosed that a total number of 115 suspects arrested were prosecuted and all were found guilty and convicted.
But he expressed concern that the situation is taking a dangerous trend since the cultivation of the drugs have started in the South East.
He said, "This area, which has gained notoriety in illicit drug trafficking, has also recorded some cases of cannabis cultivation and abuse. For example, the Abia and Imo commands destroyed about four acres of cannabis farm while a total of 506 persons with drug abuse problems were successfully counseled and rehabilitated in the South East."
According to NDLEA boss, the fear was that the situation could be worse if they do not give it priority attention it deserves.
Noting that the people of the South East were known all over the world for their ingenuity and hard work, he however cautioned that the hard earned reputation must not be soiled by the few lazy ones engaged in drug trade.
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