NDLEA destroys ‘25 tonnes’ of seized illicit drugs in Kogi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed “25 tonnes” of seized illicit drugs in Kogi.

The operatives of the agency set the illicit drugs on fire on Wednesday near the Confluence Beach Hotel, Ganaja village in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

Suleiman Ahmed-Ningi, the director of general operation and investigation at the NDLEA, said the seized illicit drugs were intended to be sold at the markets.

Ahmed-Ningi said there is a connection between the trend of criminality and the proliferation of high drugs in the country.

“The 25 tonnes of drugs set ablaze were assorted drugs recovered from those that resolved to destroy our youths,” NAN quoted the NDLEA chief to have said.

“This is because the recovered drugs were intended to be sold to the public, thereby causing damage to their health and to increase the rates of crimes and criminality in our society.

“There is no doubt that there is a symbiotic relationship between the quantities of drugs being abused and the high rate of crime and criminality in our families, communities, states, and country at large.

“To avert these fatal consequences is the reason behind NDLEA’s robust operational activities in general and particularly Kogi state command, leading to these huge drug seizures amounting to 25 tonnes that would go up in flames today.”

Umar Yahuza, the NDLEA commander in Kogi, said the 25 tonnes of drugs destroyed included cannabis sativa, tramadol, diazepam, methamphetamine, rohypnol, cocaine, and codeine, among others.

Yahuza urged residents to join the agency in the fight against illicit drugs in the country.

On his part, Jerry Omodara, the security adviser to the governor of Kogi, said the state is the gateway through which illicit drugs move from the northern and southern parts of the country.

Omodara urged NDLEA to strengthen its anti-drug war by employing more personnel from the state.