The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced significant progress in its fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
In a comprehensive report spanning the last three years, the agency revealed it arrested 52,901 individuals involved in drug-related crimes, including 48 high-profile drug barons.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) disclosed these figures on Wednesday during his address at the 2024 United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In addition to the arrests, Marwa reported that the NDLEA has secured over 9,000 convictions, boasting a conviction rate exceeding 70 per cent.
The NDLEA's operations have also resulted in the seizure of more than 7.6 million kilogrammes of various illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.
As part of its supply reduction strategy, Marwa said the agency has destroyed 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms across the country.
He also emphasised the NDLEA's balanced approach to tackling the drug problem, focusing on both supply reduction and demand reduction.
The agency has also counseled, treated, and rehabilitated over 33,453 individuals in its 30 rehabilitation centers nationwide.
He said, "The imperative to invest in prevention is dictated by evidence-based results that have shown that prevention is far more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of drug use disorder because, after all, 'prevention is better than cure.'
"At NDLEA, drug use prevention lies at the heart of our strategy in addressing the drug problem as it is; far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences.
"As part of the reforms being undertaken in the Agency in the last three years, with the support of the Federal Government and various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention programmes.
"In consonance with the theory of Demand and Supply, we have employed balanced approach in our prevention efforts by making sure that Drug Demand Reduction efforts complement the supply reduction efforts.
"Just as we invest resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, we are also not relenting in our effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks.
"After all, when you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and sundry criminals who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities," Marwa said.
He added that the magnitude of the agency's effort is reflected in the statistics of its drug supply reduction activities.
In the same vein, the anti-narcotics agency's boss said 52, 901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons have been arrested in three and half years with over 9, 000 of the suspects convicted in court.
"We have also seized over the same periods 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances", he said.
Marwa said the drug prevention programme is crucial, as the 2018 national drug use survey revealed that 10.6 million Nigerians aged 15-64 abused cannabis, out of a total 14.3 million drug abusers.
"An aspect of our offensive action operation also targets cannabis sativa at source to prevent it from reaching our cities and streets. In this regard, we continually locate and destroy cannabis farms deep in the forests where they are cultivated. So far, we have destroyed 1, 057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.
"As we speak, we are also ramping up plans for an Alternative Development Programme, which aims at persuading cannabis farmers to accept and grow cash crops and forgo the cultivation of the psychoactive plant.
"Of course, this will go with certain incentives. Alternative Development is very important when we consider that out of 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15-64 that abused drugs as per the last national drug use survey of 2018, 10.6 million of them actually abused cannabis", he said.
Marwa further said the NDLEA has established an inter-ministerial committee known as the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, aimed at strengthening the coordination of drug control efforts in the country.
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According to him, the committee, which he chairs, comprises relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, crucial to drug abuse prevention, including the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Education, Women Affairs, Information, Youths, and agencies like NAFDAC and NACA, among others.
He noted that this inter-ministerial approach aims to share best practices, mobilise resources, and tackle the multifaceted challenge of drug abuse.
NDLEA's efforts, according to him, have been recognised by international partners, including the European Union, UNODC, and the US-DEA, among others, adding that the agency's collaboration with foreign law enforcement agencies has led to the arrest and prosecution of Nigerian drug traffickers abroad.
"This is a significant achievement for Nigeria and a testament to our commitment to a drug-free society. We will continue to intensify our efforts to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking, and to bring drug criminals to justice", Brig. Gen. Marwa said.
