1.8 tons of cocaine that were seized by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from a warehouse in the Ikorodu neighborhood of Lagos have been destroyed.
In a statement, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, warned that drug lords and cartels operating in Nigeria would face worse times if they did not give up their illegal business and pursue legal endeavors.
He said that the assurance was made on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, when Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA, led stakeholders to see the agency’s seizure of 1.8 tons of cocaine from a warehouse in the Ikorodu neighborhood of Lagos.
Last Monday, the NDLEA attacked a covert warehouse at 6 Olukunola Street in the Solebo area in Ikorodu, where 1.8 tons of cocaine were found and five suspects, including a Jamaican, were detained. The operation was well-coordinated and intelligence-led.
The Federal High Court in Lagos issued an order for the consignment’s public destruction following the historic seizure, which was the largest in the history of the Agency.
Speaking Tuesday at the site of the public destruction in the Badagry neighborhood of Lagos, Gen. Marwa, who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics, DCGN Sunday Joseph, said the sheer volume of the drug haul, with street value estimated at $278,250,000 ($278, 250,000), equivalent to $194,775 billion, was a “huge haul.”
He claimed that as a result, Nigerians must support NDLEA in the organization’s ongoing fight against illicit substances.
Out of the 1.8 tons of cocaine found, 1, 828 blocks would be crushed and burned, and the remaining amount would be kept for use in the prosecution of the suspects who had been present to watch the process and sign the certificate of destruction.
The NDLEA chairman stated that the agency is continuing to prosecute people who were detained in connection with this consignment.
“On this, the public can rest assured that NDLEA shall pursue the trial to a logical conclusion. Since January 25, 2021, when we commenced our offensive action against drug traffickers, the Agency has secured record convictions. Presently, 2, 904 drug offenders are serving various jail terms, while other cases are ongoing in court, which we are confident will end in positive results too,” he said.
He warned the drug cartels that their investments in the illegal drug trade will go up in flames as you are about to see and that they also risk losing their freedom because the current NDLEA is committed to arresting, prosecuting, and ensuring the conviction of those involved in illicit drugs. He said the bust of the syndicate responsible for the cocaine warehoused in Ikorodu is a message to drug cartels. Not only that, but we are also pursuing their assets that were bought with money from illicit activity.
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Reactions from netizens:
SAINT TYNII: Hustle o, so you no go dey lie to yourself in the name of burning something wey no dey there.
Anonymous: Nigerian govt would’ve sold this and used the money to build the nation. Usa does it all the time
Mouthpiece: This is the height of corruption. Nobody can ascertain the contents of the rubbish being set ablaze. No proper investigation to get more suspects and lack of transparency. Why the hurry to burn when investigations are still going…in fact so many questions 😡
The Lone Ranger: Empty cartons
Bee: My own problem is “won’t the people in that vicinity get high by just inhaling the smoke?”🙄
Benjamin Musa Yamtei: Kudos to Gen. MB. Marwa and NDLEA personnel. May God continue to guide and protect you and give you victory against this war on drugs.
Anonymous: Story
Anonymous: Nolly wood movie part 2
Anonymous: Useless youths
Anonymous: Seriously? That much cocaine burnt? and nobody got high? NDLEA needs to be investigated.
Anonymous: Environmental pollution…..people living in that suppose sue NDLEA to court……stupid country
