In a single year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized more than three million kg of illicit narcotics, according to the agency. Brig-Gen Buba Marwa, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, announced this at the graduation of 31 Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry beneficiaries (set 50) at the Enoch and Folu Adeboye Rehabilitation Centre in Epe, Lagos State. Marwa stated that the agency would continue to fight drug abuse in the country with zeal. He noted that drug usage was becoming pervasive, particularly among young people, and that attempts to reduce it to the minimal minimum were needed.
According to studies, Nigeria has a drug use prevalence of 14.4%, almost three times that of the global average of 5.5 percent. 'To change the drug narrative in Nigeria, we launched an offensive action, which is a non-stop drug supply reduction activity that entailed relentless tracking, pursuit, arrest, and prosecution of drug traffickers,' said Marwa, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Commander, General Investigation, NDLEA, Adeyemi Adeofe. We've been doing well in this task since January 2021. In one year, we made 12,306 arrests and 1,367 convictions, seized 3.4 million kg of illegal narcotics like cannabis, cocaine, codeine, heroin, and tramadol, and recovered over N130 billion in cash and drugs. We successfully counseled in 2021.
CADAM's operations, I must admit, make major contributions to Nigeria's concentrated effort to combat the ravages of illicit substances, and I dare say that posterity will be kind to CADAM for having played such a vital part,' Marwa continued.
'We are bringing them back into society with the hope and resolve to live independent and productive drug-free lives,' said CADAM Matron Mrs Folu Adeboye. We are convinced that, with the new foundation created here, the family's support, and God's grace, these lovely people will achieve their goals.
We must not be deterred, but rather encouraged to collaborate in order to limit the prevalence of this disease, especially among our teenagers and young people. We cannot afford to continue to treat this swollen population with casual indifference or benign neglect.
