There are links between drug trafficking and terrorism, says Marwa

Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has called for international cooperation to address the links between drug trafficking and terrorist activities.

Speaking on Monday at the ongoing 64th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) holding in Vienna, Austria, the NDLEA chairman said despite Nigeria’s efforts to control the trafficking of illicit substances, there are still concerns about the activities of drug peddlers.

In a statement by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, Marwa said illicit drug activities also have connections to illegal migration, money laundering, and other forms of organised crime.

“Nigeria calls for robust international cooperation to address the links between drug trafficking and terrorism, illicit financial flows, smuggling of migrants and other forms of organised crime,” he said.

“Despite the implementation of our framework and strategic action plan, trafficking and abuse of controlled substances persist. First, the cultivation and high traffic of cannabis and its abuse has been on the increase. Our National Drug Use Survey, 2019 revealed that over 10 million persons abused cannabis in one year.

“In similar pattern, the 2019 and 2020 World Drug Reports identified cannabis as the most abused substance with its threat to security, health and wellbeing of the global population.

“Second, the trafficking and non-medical use of synthetic and pharmaceutical opioids, especially Tramadol, remains a challenge. This is in spite of our domestic control efforts as well as two tripartite meetings, facilitated by UNODC, involving Nigeria, Ghana and India held in New Delhi and Lagos in 2019, to address the Tramadol crisis.

“Nigeria, therefore, reiterates that legislation of the illicit use of cannabis is a violation of the Drug Control Treaties, while highlighting the urgent need for change in the control measures for Tramadol and other pharmaceuticals.”