The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of more than 11,340 suspected drug traffickers and securing 1,111 convictions between January and November 2012.
The chairman and chief executive officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) who disclosed this during a meeting with his commanders at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja yesterday, also stated that NDLEA seized 3.3 million kilogrammes of illicit drugs during the period.
He further said there was impressive drug demand reduction statistics with 7,066 counselled and rehabilitated.
“Indeed, we have enough to celebrate this year, and especially in this last quarter of the year, such as the interceptions of three bandits caught with three AK-47 rifles in Katsina; a gunrunner nabbed with a G-3 rifle in Benue; a pair of cocaine pushers at the Enugu airport; and daring suspects, who attempted to traffic 2,000kg of cannabis in concrete mixer trucks in Adamawa.
“We also arrested a drug kingpin, who offered a $24,500 bribe to compromise investigation at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
“The figures of our drug supply reduction activities have skyrocketed: 11,340 arrests and 1,111 convictions in 11 months. These figures are balanced by equally impressive drug demand reduction statistics of 7,066 counselled and rehabilitated all in our facilities.
“During the 11 months, we successfully mopped up over 3.3 million kilogrammes of assorted drugs away from the streets of Nigeria; away from criminals, terrorists and bandits, and away from our youths.”
