The National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) , Lagos State Command, has arrested 584 drug suspects and convicted 144 for drug related offences within one year.
The Command has also within the period seized a total of 14, 196.800kg of hard drugs comprising of Cannabis Sativa, Tramadol, Rohypnol, Cough Syrup with Codeine etc while 160 drug users were counseled and rehabilitated.
Commander Lagos State Command NDLEA , Mr Ralph Igwenagu, in a statement to mark the United Nation’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking for the year 2020,said :”The problem of drug trafficking and abuse has reached an epidemic level all over the world. It has become an embarrassing scourge afflicting both individuals and the society at large.
” It has destabilized families, truncated the promising future of the youths and has remained a negative force driving anti-social behavior and the increasing deterioration of societal values and norms. The escalating wave of crime and criminality such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy, terrorism and other forms of societal decay which are challenges confronting us today are rooted in the pervasive consumption of drugs. The challenge is further compounded by the ever increasing number of Psychoactive Substances of abuse and use of prescription drugs such as Tramadol, Cough syrup with Codeine, Rohypnol and the locally blended Skushi drink by youths between 18 and 35 years. This has become worrisome indeed.
“The Theme for this year’s event is “Better Knowledge for Better Care” Hashtag: #FactsForSolidarity. This theme is quite apt and timely as it clearly underscores the current response to the current world drug challenge which requires better and informed knowledge of drug use disorders which are the result of a complex inter play of factors that are beyond the control of an individual. The theme aims at improving the understanding of the world drug problem and fostering greater international co-operation for countering its impact on health, governance and security.
“Lagos State Command is determined to curtail to the barest minimum the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the state through effective drug law enforcement, prosecution of drug law offenders as well public enlightenment and sensitization, advocacy and rehabilitation of addicts.
“The Lagos State Command of the Agency is not leaving any stone unturned in our resolve to frontally confront the problem through effective commitment to our mandate. Our efforts are yielding tremendous results in all fronts. In the last one year the counter narcotic efforts of the Command have yielded impressive result despite the global Coronavirus pandemic”
