The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured 9,034 convictions in the last three years, says its Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa (rtd.).
Marwa, who disclosed this in Lagos on Tuesday during the Island Club Business luncheon, added that the agency also arrested 52,901 traffickers and 52 barons within the period under review.
The NDLEA boss said that most of the culprits were high-profile personalities in the society.
“That tells how deeply the rot had eaten into the fabric of our society.
“Within the period, we have seized 8.6 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs and destroyed 1,572 hectares of cannabis farms,” he said.
Marwa noted that the high number of arrests and prosecutions was a significant achievement, showing the agency’s commitment to tackling the scourge of drug trafficking in the country.
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Island Club, Rotimi Olasode Martins acknowledged Marwa’s unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse.
Martins said that the NDLEA boss’s wealth of experience in tackling this scourge was commendable.
According to him, drug abuse as a menace has infiltrated every layer of our society, threatening our youth, destabilising families, and undermining the socioeconomic fabric of our nation.
“Today, we are gathered not only to discuss its devastating impact but, more importantly, to explore practical, sustainable solutions to this epidemic.
“This event exemplifies what Island Club has stood for since its inception – a hub for meaningful discourse, community engagement, and solutions-driven dialogue,” he said. (NAN)