The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency says it intercepted no fewer than 60 jumbo bags of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 2,400kg, in Lagos.

The NDLEA chairman, Buba Marwa, said this while decorating eight officers of the Marine Command of the agency with their new ranks and commendation letters on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Marwa has approved special promotions for the eight officers of the command for their brave and professional conduct.

This was during the operation to arrest drug traffickers and interdict canoes and boats moving illicit drugs from Ghana to Nigeria through the Lagos waterways.

The promoted officers are Dick Aaron Dick,  Alabi Mayowa, Gabriel Ubokikwan, Aso Daniel John, Abdul Emmanuel Sule, Ngabolo Victor Sonpano, Jonah Emmanuel Sule and Membe Gabriel.

Mr Marwa said, “Every time we have a breakthrough, it tells the world a story about the new NDLEA we are working hard to build. It also reinforces our conviction as an organisation that we are on the right track. So, an occasion such as this is a source of pride for me.”

Justifying the essence of the special promotion and commendation, the NDLEA boss said, “In this case, we have officers who exhibited bravery and an unwavering sense of duty in the face of adversity on the waterways. They stopped an attempt by a criminal gang to smuggle 60 jumbo bags of illicit drugs from a neighbouring country.

“Despite obvious attempts to thwart our interdiction bid, our officers were resilient and prevailed over the situation. It is in recognition of their gallantry that they are given special promotion and we are holding this ceremony to decorate them. This is keeping with our culture of rewarding hard work, results and sacrifice.”

Mr Marwa said that the reward scheme was also part of the sweeping reforms he instituted in the past three years to motivate officers to raise their performance.

(NAN)