News Investigators/ The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday destroyed 73,463.21kg of assorted illicit drugs seized across Edo, with the street worth of N2.8 billion.
In his address at the event in Benin, Buba Marwa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA described the exercise as a major blow to criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and abuse.
Mr Marwa said the public destruction of the forfeited exhibits showed the agency’s determination to rid the country of illicit substances.
According to him, the exercise will also protect communities in the state from the devastating effects of substance abuse.
Mr Marwa, who was represented by NDLEA’s Director of Operations and General Investigatio, Suleiman Ahmed-Ningi, said the event was far more than the destruction of narcotics.
The NDLEA boss noted that the destruction symbolised the nation’s unwavering commitment to dismantling drug trafficking syndicates and preventing harmful substances from reaching vulnerable Nigerians.
“The drugs being destroyed today would have ended up in the veins, lungs and bloodstreams of many young Nigerians if not for the vigilance and courage of our officers.
“Their destruction represents justice for the countless lives that could have been ruined,” he said.
According to him, the drugs comprised mainly cannabis, weighing 73,210.23kg, alongside psychotropic substances, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
He said the volume of the seizures reflected the magnitude of the threat posed by drug trafficking but also highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations carried out by NDLEA personnel.
Mr Marwa noted that the presence of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine among the exhibits demonstrated that Edo and Nigeria remained targets of international drug trafficking networks.
He lamented the social consequences of substance abuse, recalling encounters with addicts undergoing rehabilitation and families struggling with the pain of addiction.
According to him, drug abuse has continued to rob many young people of their potentials while leaving emotional and economic scars on families and communities.
Mr Marwa, however, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, community leaders, parents, teachers and religious organisations to tackle the drug menace, stressing that combating substance abuse required collective action.
“The message is clear. Those who traffic in illicit drugs should know that NDLEA will continue to track them, seize their consignments and ensure such substances are permanently removed from society,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
He added that the organisation would remain steadfast until communities across the country are free from the scourge of illicit drugs.
He expressed optimism that sustained enforcement efforts, coupled with public support and awareness campaigns, would help build a safer and healthier society for future generations.
Earlier, Mitchell Ofoyeju, Commander of the NDLEA in Edo, described the event as a demonstration of government’s resolve to defeat drug cartels and protect communities from the dangers associated with illicit substances.
He said the destruction followed an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin and involved various categories of seized narcotics.
According to him, the breakdown showed that cannabis accounted for the largest quantity at 73,210.23kg, while psychotropic substances amounted to 246.36kg, including tramadol, diazepam and codeine-based cough syrups.
Other drugs destroyed, he said, included 2.662kg of methamphetamine, 3.7441kg of cocaine and 0.2168kg of heroin.
Mr Ofoyeju said the exhibits were recovered through sustained intelligence-led operations carried out by operatives of the command across different parts of the state.
He added that operatives had identified and destroyed cannabis farms, uncovered illicit drug warehouses and intercepted vehicles and articulated trucks used in transporting illegal substances.
The commander explained that the suspects arrested during the operations cut across different age groups and genders, saying some of the drugs were recovered from unconventional locations, including shrines.
“We have faced attacks, including armed assaults, while carrying out our duties but we remain undeterred in the discharge of our mandate,” he said.
Mr Ofoyeju stressed that winning the war against drug abuse required collective action involving government institutions, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, schools, families and other stakeholders.
He warned that efforts to provide children with quality education and material comfort would amount to nothing if they were not protected from the menace of drug abuse.
Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, who was the special guest at the event described the war against drugs as a battle against criminality.
“This is not a moment for celebration alone; it is a moment for sober reflection and a recommitment to the fight.
“The war on drugs is a war for the soul of our nation. It is a war against criminality, kidnapping and banditry as well as the health hazards that drug abuse brings,” Mr Okpebholo said.
The governor, represented by the Chairperson, Edo Drug Control Committee, Mrs Edesili Anani, assured the NDLEA of continued partnership, revealing plans by his administration to provide a modern rehabilitation centre for people recovering from drug use disorders.
“Drug traffickers must leave Edo because we are coming for them and we will not relent until every gram of illicit substance is seized and destroyed,” he said.
On his part, Sen. Joseph Ikpea, representing Edo Central and Chairman, Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics in the Senate, lauded the anti-drug agency for the monumental drug seizures.
He pledged legislative backing as well as appropriation support to ensure a better equipped, funded and motivated anti-narcotic agency.
“Every kilogramme of cocaine, every bag of cannabis and satchet of tramadol and codeine destroyed today represents lives saved from the catastrophic effects of drugs.
“Your work is dangerous and often not properly funded yet you filled the gaps.
“We will continue to press for better welfare, funding, equipment and legal backing for your operations,” the senator stated.
NAN