The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Thursday in Abuja, destroyed over 30 tons of illicit drugs and substances worth an estimated street value of N2.58 billion.

The drugs were seized by operatives of the FCT command of the NDLEA and that of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa said the agency would not relent in pursuing its War Against Drug Abuse and encouraging citizens to take ownership of the drug war.

He said the event was a testimony of the agency’s resolve to ensure the safety and well-being of Nigerians.

Mr Marwa said, “Today’s public destruction of over 30 tons of illicit drugs and substances further buttresses that call to action. The breakdown of these drugs is 72.156kg of cocaine, 4.3838kg of heroin, 3.9kg of ephedrine, 20.185kg of methamphetamine, and 30,440.42kg of cannabis. 

“Others include 0.2115kg of Rohypnol, 274.891kg of tramadol, 397.35kg of diazepam and 239.2kg of Khat, totalling 31,531.09kg. These drugs are valued at an estimated N2,580,209,783.00 in street value.”

Mr Marwa said the sheer bulk of the drugs destroyed was a reminder of the magnitude of the drug problem in the country.

“Just two of the facts are enough to cause a sober reflection. One: 14.3 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 years are abusing drugs. That is the size of the population of some countries. And two, 10.6 million of our compatriots abuse cannabis, which makes Nigeria one of the countries with the highest number of people addicted to the psychotropic plant,” added the NDLEA boss.

He noted that the statistics “are worrisome when you look beyond the figures to their health and security implications.”

“While the larger society may not have an immediate grasp of the import of the drug facts and figures of Nigeria, those of us at NDLEA can read the handwriting on the wall as per the dire implications of the findings from the survey,” Mr Marwa explained. “That is why since the coming on board of the current leadership of NDLEA in January 2021, we have doubled down on our efforts and now aggressively pursue our mandate.”

He also mentioned that the NDLEA “has been effectively repositioned more than ever before to curtail the production, cultivation, processing, importation, exportation, sales, trafficking and abuse of controlled drugs and illicit substances.”

(NAN)