Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), on Wednesday warned unrepentant drug barons and cartels using Nigeria as drug routes to rethink or face tougher times in the year 2023.
Marwa predicted tougher times in 2023, for the drug Lords, if they failed to back out of the illicit drug business.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the NDLEA boss gave the warning on Wednesday at a press briefing at the NDLEA national headquarters, Abuja, while setting the records of his achievement in the last two years of his stewardship.
According to him, the briefing was necessary to update the public on efforts by the Agency to rid the country of illicit substance abuse and drug trafficking on the second anniversary of his leadership of the anti-narcotics body.
Last year, I issued a New Year appeal to them and also warned that those who refused to heed the warning will find themselves in a difficult situation.
“Already, we have 34 barons in our custody and they are facing the music in court. We have secured orders for the temporary forfeiture of their assets.
“With our prosecution being topnotch, they can look forward to a long time in prison and final forfeiture of their wealth and assets.
“Those involved in the illicit drug trade should take a cue from our actions. They can again look forward to a tougher time this year.
“The signs are clear: we have already in the first two weeks of this year taken down three major drug cartels, one of which has built extensive networks across the world while at least six of their kingpins are in our custody as I speak.
“The details you will get to know in the coming days. In these two years, we arrested 26, 458 drug traffickers, among them, 34 barons.
“In 24 months, we successfully prosecuted 3,733 offenders who were convicted and handed various jail terms in court. Of the conviction figure, 2,346 were recorded in 2022 alone, which is the highest in the history of the Agency and almost doubled the highest ever recorded in the 33 years of NDLEA.
“This is not happenchance but a result of professionalism, determination, commitment and hard work of our officers, men and women.” He stated.
Marwa described 2022 as an epoch year, adding that, “We took a giant leap in drug demand reduction with the establishment and commissioning of the NDLEA drug abuse call Centre which broadened access to treatment and rehabilitation.
“It was a year we had unprecedented support too, notably from the Governors’ Wives Forum which made commitments to broaden and deepen social efforts to ameliorate the consequences of drug abuse.
“We also had support from our international partners, chiefly the UNODC, counterparts and governments of the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, India, and South Korea.
“The support came in the form of donations of equipment, training, intelligence and other logistics.”
He assured Nigerians that the Agency is firmly on the task of making Nigeria safe from illicit substances.
The NDLEA boss said that while it may sound like an impossibility, it is achievable.
Marwa explained that the Agency would sustain its offensive and would shut down the drugs routes from other countries into Nigeria.
“We shall broaden access to treatment and rehabilitation, and we will continue to carry Nigerians along on this journey to curb the trafficking and abuse of substances in Nigeria.” He said.
He warned citizens to be wary in their dealings with people of questionable wealth.
“The anticipated amendment of the NDLEA Act will be this year and that will strengthen the arm of our agency in its drug law enforcement.
“We look forward to arresting more barons and the 34 in the net presently will know their fate in court in the weeks and months ahead.
“The Proceed of Crime Act 2022 enacted last year has given us new leverage. And I will like to remind those who benefit from the proceeds of drug crimes, this time, families, friends and associates, that our investigations are thorough and where we find any link between a drug baron and private citizens, we shall scrutinize their assets.
“The onus is now on every citizen, to be honest in their financial dealings with people whose source of wealth is suspect.” He added.
Marwa expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders for their support in the total transformation of the Agency.
“We owe a lot of people and institutions gratitude for the turnaround of the NDLEA
“First of all, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his tireless support which has been the driving force for change in the country’s drug use narrative.
“All that has been achieved so far and ongoing efforts are part of the President Buhari administration’s agenda for a better country.
“We similarly, appreciate the efforts of the National Assembly, through the two committees in the Senate and House of Representatives that have oversight of the Agency.
“We also deeply appreciate the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, the UNODC, our foreign partners and sister agencies who have all in one way or the other been catalysts to the NDLEA productivity in the past two years.
“Again, special commendations for our officers, men and women who are daily risking their lives in the forests, on the streets and dangerous terrains across the country chasing merchants of death and mopping up illicit substances. You’re all heroes! To our media friends, we say a big thank you”, he stated.
