Nigeria Destroys Over 30 Tons Of Illicit Drugs Worth N2.6 Billion

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed more than 30 tons of illicit drugs and substances valued at N2.58 billion. The agency revealed that 14.3 million people between 15 and 64 years are involved in drug abuse in the country.

The drugs were seized by NDLEA's Federal Capital Territory Command and operatives of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

"Today's public destruction of over 30 tons of illicit drugs and substances further buttresses that call to action. The breakdown of these drugs is 72.156kg of cocaine, 4.3838kg of heroin, 3.9kg of ephedrine, 20.185kg of methamphetamine, and 30,440.42kg of cannabis," NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa said Thursday, Peoples Gazette reported. "Others include 0.2115kg of Rohypnol, 274.891kg of tramadol, 397.35kg of diazepam and 239.2kg of Khat, totaling 31,531.09kg. These drugs are valued at an estimated N2,580,209,783.00 in street value."

He said the agency will not stop its war against drug abuse.

Marwa stressed the quantity of the drugs destroyed is a reminder that drug abuse is a massive problem in Nigeria. The NDLEA chairman noted that 14.3 million is the size of the population of some countries, highlighting the magnitude of the problem crippling the West African nation.

Furthermore, he said that "10.6 million of our compatriots abuse cannabis, which makes Nigeria one of the countries with the highest number of people addicted to the psychotropic plant."

These numbers are "worrisome" considering its impact on the health and security of the country.

"While the larger society may not have an immediate grasp of the import of the drug facts and figures of Nigeria, those of us at NDLEA can read the handwriting on the wall as per the dire implications of the findings from the survey," he said.

He noted that NDLEA has doubled down on its efforts and is working aggressively to fight against drug abuse, adding that the agency has been "effectively repositioned more than ever before to curtail the production, cultivation, processing, importation, exportation, sales, trafficking and abuse of controlled drugs and illicit substances."

Apart from illegal drug trafficking, Nigeria also deals with bandit issues, economic crisis following a fuel subsidy removal and the after-effects of demonetization.