By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday, destroyed illicit drugs worth over one billion Naira in Oyo State.
Speaking at the destruction of the illicit drugs held at Ikija, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), hinted that the illicit drug haul weighing approximately 16,799kg, comprising 16,473 kg of Cannabis sativa, 4g of cocaine, and 326kg of psychotropic substances.
Represented by the secretary of the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, Brigadier General Marwa said “occasions such as this is an open window for the public to have an insight into what the officers and men of the NDLEA are doing behind the scene”
” What we are here to do today is the tail end of a long-drawn process that started with the gathering of intelligence, followed by interdiction, arrests, and prosecutions. Public destruction of exhibits is the end of the process”, he said.
Brigadier General Marwa added, ” And for the officers and men of the Agency, it is a testament that the hard work of the past weeks, months, and years are not in vain”.
“At this juncture, I want to appreciate and thank the Oyo State Government under the dynamic leadership of His Excellency, Eng. Seyi Makinde for his support to the NDLEA in Oyo State. We appreciate the support and we look forward to more.”
Oyo State Commander of the NDLEA, Abdullahi Saeed, while disclosing that the illicit drugs were seized from criminal elements within the state during routine operations lauded Governor Makinde for his continued support, morally, financially, and logistics-wise, to the NDLEA Oyo State Command.
Governor, Seyi Makinde while speaking said his administration will continue to support the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to curb illicit drug use in the state.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, the governor tasked the agency to increase enlightenment to the public about the danger of the drug abuse.
“When the State Commander and the Director-General were speaking, I heard them say that this had not happened since the year 2018, so for about four (4) years now, we have not had any burning of illicit drugs, at least no public one in Oyo state, so today is a significant day”, he said
The governor added, ” illicit drugs are definitely a menace in our society and while we destroy the drugs, I think one thing we need to think about and discuss is that if there is no market then the drugs will not be popular, so I think we need to start to realise that prevention is better than cure”.
“So, that message that the DG and state commander talked about, taking that message back to the society, to the people of Oyo State and especially our youths, that drugs are a menace, it is a drain on them financially, psychologically, emotionally, economically and even on their health and in many cases could lead to death.
“If we can start and prevent even the use of drugs then what we would be doing here would be much reduced, because like I said if there is no market then the marketers and dealers would have fewer incentives to want to produce more drugs.”
The governor stressed, “so, like it was mentioned that this hasn’t been done in four years and I was almost alarmed to hear the number of drugs that were going to be burnt here today, over 16,000kgs and over a billion naira, we can see that this is a big market that we are fighting against and all hands have to be on deck.”
“If you have 16,000kgs resulting to a billion Naira, it means that the marketers and dealers would continue to look for all kinds of innovative ways to ensure that their market sells and this means that for all of us especially for our colleagues in NDLEA, we must always be one step ahead of the game to ensure that we continually block all avenues for the sales and marketing of these illicit drugs.”
