The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has disclosed that it seized more than two billion pills of tramadol within the last 18 months.

The Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Thursday during a familiarisation tour of the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos.

Marwa said the seizures were made through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing with international partners, particularly authorities in India and Pakistan.

He said, “Within the last 18 months, we have seized more than two billion pills of tramadol through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing with our international partners, especially in India and Pakistan.”

The NDLEA boss warned traffickers against using the nation’s ports to move illicit drugs, saying the agency had significantly enhanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities.

He said the agency was working closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and other security agencies under existing memoranda of understanding to ensure seamless intelligence sharing and transfer of cases.

Marwa called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, port operators and other stakeholders at the Lekki Free Trade Zone to curb drug trafficking and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.

Describing the Lekki Deep Sea Port and Free Trade Zone as strategic national assets, he said protecting the facilities from criminal networks required a collective effort.

He said, “The fight against drug abuse and trafficking cannot be left to the NDLEA alone.

Nigeria is facing a very serious drug challenge. We are all parents, and we see what drug abuse is doing to our youths.

“It cannot be the responsibility of the NDLEA alone. It requires total societal collaboration.”

Marwa said the agency remained committed to disrupting the cultivation, production, importation, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.

He cited the recent discovery of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State, saying the facility, if left unchecked, would have produced illicit drugs worth about $360m.

The NDLEA chairman noted that the Federal High Court recently visited the forest location where the laboratory was uncovered as part of the ongoing trial of the suspects.

He added that those behind the illegal factory, including foreign nationals, should face the full weight of the law.

Marwa also urged parents to monitor their children for signs of substance abuse and seek early intervention where necessary.

He said, “If there is any suspicion that a family member is using drugs, it is important to conduct a drug test and seek help immediately. Early intervention is better than waiting until addiction leads to psychiatric problems or even death.”

He expressed optimism that the proposed amendment to the NDLEA Act would impose stiffer penalties on drug traffickers and strengthen the country’s anti-narcotics campaign.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Lekki Free Zone, Mrs Adesuwa Ladoja, pledged continued collaboration with the NDLEA to keep the zone free of illicit drugs and other criminal activities.

Also, the Managing Director of Lekki Port, Mr Wang Qiang, reaffirmed the port’s commitment to supporting the NDLEA and other security agencies, saying China maintained a zero-tolerance policy against illicit drugs.

In his welcome remarks, the Area Commander, NDLEA, Lekki Deep Sea Port Command, Jonah Achema, described the command as one of the enduring legacies of the chairman, saying the NDLEA boss had continued to nurture and support it since its establishment in 2022.

He noted that the command quickly made its mark with major seizures of tramadol and other illicit drugs, demonstrating its readiness to combat drug trafficking through Nigeria’s newest seaport. (Punch News)

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