NDLEA BOSS LAMENTS YOUTHS' INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG TRAFFICKING

CHAIRMAN/CHIEF of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Alhaji Bello Lafiaji at the weekend made a shocking revelation of the
involvement of a 14-year-old school girl, Lucy Ugwah in the illicit
drug business, saying the involvement of youths in drug trafficking
portends great danger for the future of the country.

Lafiaji who spoke during the joint public destruction of 2.2 tons of
cannabis sativa (Indian hemp), 10.3 grams of cocaine and 97.1 grams of
heroine by the Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi State Commands of the agency
in Enugu, said the girl was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State while
trying to smuggle 6.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

She was wearing her school uniform at the time of her arrest.

He stated that recent investigations within the three states of Enugu,
Anambra, Ebonyi and beyond revealed that youths and school children
were highly involved in drug business, describing the development as
very worrisome.

His words: "Intelligence reports coming in from these three states and
beyond are however, disturbing. We have noticed a wanton involvement
of the youths and school children in the trafficking in and abuse of
drugs within these areas.

I still remember vividly the sad story of one Lucy Ugwah, aged 14 and
just a year two secondary school student that was arrested last year
in Onitsha while trying to smuggle 6.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa,
still in her school uniform."I am also aware of several secondary
school authorities engaged in a running battle with students whose
stock in trade is the peddling of drugs to their fellow students, all
within the school premises. This is the ugly practice that these young
boys and girls, which we always touted as leaders of tomorrow carry
over to tertiary institutions and even the larger society and all we
now get from them is all manner of non-conforming and violent
behaviours."

The NDLEA boss stressed the need for all Nigerians to join hands in
fighting this ugly malaise, which has dangerous consequences for the
future of the country, and called on the people of Enugu, Anambra and
Ebonyi States to rise up to the challenge by co-operating with the
agency to make the area uninhabitable for criminals."The best way this
can be achieved is by first and foremost stopping the leasing of
farmlands to cannabis cultivators. This must also be followed with the
people volunteering valuable information on such illicit acts and
exposing all illegal cultivators and drug barons in your midst,"
Lafiaji said.

Also speaking, the Enugu State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Adole Aliyu
called on Judges in the country to take a second look at some of the
sentences being passed on drug suspects.

He lamented that in recent times, "the enemies we are up in arms
against in the society have become more vicious, desperate and
determined to resist our onslaughts."Expressing regrets over the
attitudes of some Nigerians who he said were hell bent on inflicting
injuries on the future hopes of the country, the commander, however,
urged all patriotic Nigerians committed to the enthronement of a drug
free society not to relent in the war against drug abuse and
trafficking".