Pubdate: Sun, 03 Dec 2006
Source: Tide, The (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2006 The Tide
Contact:  http://www.thetidenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3973

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 .
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MAP posted-by: Derek