TheCable

Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), says the agency seized 100 million pills of tramadol within 22 months.

The NDLEA boss said this on Tuesday during the agency’s award/commendation ceremony and decoration of newly promoted officers, held at its national headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the agency, Marwa also said within the period, the agency recorded over 23,000 arrests.

“The agency arrested 23,907 drug traffickers including 29 barons. Our seizure was over 5,500 tons or 5.5 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs, which together with cash seized are worth over N450 billion,” Marwa was quoted as saying.

“In the same period, we have taken the fight to the doorsteps of cannabis growers by destroying 772.5 hectares of cannabis farms.

“In these 22 months, we have recorded convictions of 3,434 offenders. We have equally made good strides in our drug demand reduction efforts where the number of those counselled and rehabilitated is 16,114.

“The figures are mere statistics until you view them through the lens of human impact and the good or harm that could have come to society, the impact on public health, security as well as law and order if those dangerous drugs had gone to the street.

“Take, for instance, the one hundred million pills of tramadol seized in the past 22 months. If those pills had gone into circulation and ended up in the hands of young people, it would take a heavy toll on lives, families, productivity and, ultimately, the GDP of the country because it will affect these young people who are the engine room of productivity.

“We usually calculate our performance as monthly, quarterly or yearly appraisals. But drug law enforcement is generally a continuum, hence, I am wont to always appraise our efforts from January 2021, when we began far-reaching reforms, reviewed our strategies and rejigged the existing systems to accommodate innovations.”

Marwa praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his contribution to the agency’s mission to curtail illicit drugs in the country.

He also charged the promoted officers to redouble their efforts, and remain committed to their duties.

“I charge you to take this award as a testament to your professional progress. Beyond that, that you are here today should also be taken as a challenge to surpass your record every quarter and to be resolute to always be part of this bi-annual ceremony,” he said.