Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says the agency arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and a half years.
Marwa spoke on Wednesday during the celebration of World Drug Day at the State House banquet hall in Abuja.
The NDLEA chairman said the theme of the event resonates well with the agency’s mission of preventing abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Marwa said the agency has used its war against drug abuse (WADA) initiative to campaign “vigorously” at the grassroots for people to shun illicit substances.
He added that 33,453 drug addicts have been rehabilitated in 30 of the agency’s rehab facilities across the country.
“I am proud to state that the programme has been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness-driven vehicle for public engagement and collaboration against the drug scourge,” he said.
“Also, the agency has introduced the drug integrity test initiative, which is anticipated to metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian.
“The test is intended for secondary school students, students seeking admission into tertiary institutions and returning students, workers in government and private offices, and individuals seeking political offices, as well as prospective couples before taking their marriage vows.
“The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status of drug use for the purpose of appropriate intervention, including treatment and rehabilitation.”
Marwa added that NDLEA has destroyed 1,057 hectares of cannabis farms in the past three years.
“The magnitude of our effort is reflected in the statistics of our drug supply reduction activities. We have arrested 52,901 drug traffickers, including 48 barons, in three and a half years,” he said.
“Over 9,000 of the suspects have been convicted in court. We have also seized over 7.6 million kilograms of assorted illicit substances.”
