NDLEA razes 1.8 tons of cocaine

Etim Effiong

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Tuesday, set ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine it recovered from the warehouse at 6 Olukunola Street, Solebo Estate, Ikorodu, Lagos State.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (retd), said while leading stakeholders to the incineration site that hard times await drug barons and cartels in Nigeria.

“NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days last week stormed a hidden warehouse at 6 Olukunola street, Solebo estate Ikorodu where 1.8 tons of cocaine were recovered and five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested.

“Following the historical seizure, which is the largest in the agency’s history, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos was obtained for the public destruction of the consignment,” he said.

Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s director, prosecution and legal services, deputy commander-general, Narcotics, DCGN, Sunday Joseph, said at Badagry where the drugs were destroyed that the value of the illicit drugs was worth $278,250.00.

He added that the amount is equivalent to N194,775,000, noting that the amount signals the extent of the illicit activities of the men of the underworld.

He said: “He said out of the 1.8-ton seizure, 1, 828 blocks of the cocaine will be crushed and set ablaze while the remnant will be secured for purpose of prosecution of the suspects who were brought to witness the procedure and sign the certificate of destruction.”

According to the NDLEA boss, the agency is proceeding with the prosecution of those arrested in connection with this consignment.

On this, the public can rest assured that NDLEA shall pursue the trial to a logical conclusion. Since January 25, 2021, when we commenced our offensive action against drug traffickers, the Agency has secured record convictions.

“Presently, 2, 904 drug offenders are serving various jail terms, while other cases are ongoing in court, which we are confident will end in positive results too.

“To the drug underworld, he said the bust of the syndicate responsible for the cocaine warehoused in Ikorodu is a message to drug cartels that their investments in the illicit drug trade will go up in flames as you are about to witness while they also risk losing their freedom because the present NDLEA is committed to arresting, prosecuting and ensuring the conviction of those involved in illicit drugs.

“That is not all, we now also go after their assets acquired with the proceeds of the criminal trade.

“Marwa said the fact that the Ikorodu operation was conducted clinically without any skirmish or bloodshed is further testimony to the evolution of the NDLEA and its new capabilities and a pointer to the fact that the game has changed in the war against illicit drugs.

“He expressed appreciation to the agency’s international partners, especially the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) that supported the cocaine syndicate bust and the Nigerian military that provided additional firepower during the operation, as well as other law enforcement agencies that have been supporting efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.

“While soliciting more support for the agency’s work, Marwa said the safety of our society is the responsibility of every one of us and every citizen shall be fulfilling his or her civic duty by assisting the agency to clean up our communities and cities by joining our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), adding that together, we can make this country secure.”