NDLEA ALERTS ON ILLICIT DRUGS IN OGUN

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has expressed
concern over the high level of illicit drug activities taking place
in Ogun State.

The chairman of the agency, Mr Ahmadu Giade, represented by its
Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, disclosed this at
a public destruction of drugs by the state command in Abeokuta.

He said: "The quantity of drugs we are destroying today and the quick
succession of destruction is a clear indication of the high level of
illicit drug activities taking place in Ogun."

Giade noted that reports at the disposal of the agency also showed
that there was serious cultivation of cannabis in the state.

"Drug barons also exploit the numerous and porous border routes in
the state to smuggle drugs into the state and into other neighbouring
states," he said.

The chairman said the agency was, however, determined to checkmate
and put a halt to the trend.

"Ogun is supposed to be a gateway for social and economic development
and not gateway for drug trafficking," he said.

The NDLEA boss said the agency had between January and now destroyed
81.975 tonnes of narcotic and psychotropic substances in Edo, Delta,
Niger, Lagos, Oyo, Ondo and Osun states

The Ogun Commander of the agency, Mr Nicholas Salu-Walter, said the
devastating effects of drug abuse and trafficking had far reaching
implications in many spheres of human existence.

He appealed to Nigerians to cooperate and support NDLEA in ensuring
the success of the drug war that had been embarked upon for a long
time.

Our correspondent, who was at the public destruction of the drugs,
reports that 4.2 tonnes of Indian hemp were burnt at the state trade
fair exhibition ground in Abeokuta .