Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.)
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) said the agency has arrested 23,907 drug traffickers, including 29 drug barons within 22 months.
He disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the NDLEA’s end-of-year awards, commendation and decorations of promoted officers.
“Our seizure was more than 5,500 tons or 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, which together with cash seized are worth over N450 billion.
“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of Indian hemp growers by destroying 772.5 hectares of Indian hemp farms.
“In these 22 months, we have recorded convictions of 3,434 offenders.
“We have equally made good strides in our drug demand reduction efforts where the number of those counselled and rehabilitated is 16, 114.”
“The figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, the impact on public health, security, as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the streets. Take, for instance, the one hundred million pills of tramadol seized in the past 22 months.
“If those pills had gone into circulation and ended up in the hands of young people, they would take a heavy toll on lives, families, productivity and, ultimately, the GDP of the country because they will affect these young people who are the engine room of productivity.”
“This is the overview of what we have done so far, to justify the awards and commendations that will be accorded some individual officers and commands.”
While presenting awards and commendation letters to recipients, he said “beyond that, that you are here today should also be taken as a challenge to surpass your record every quarter and to be resolute to always be part of this quarterly ceremony.
“NDLEA will continue to recognise those who play pivotal roles in the agency’s giant strides. Recall that 3,506 officers were promoted last year and we didn’t stop there.”
