The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. , said arrests and seizures of illegal drugs in the country’s waterways and ports will increase. .
Mr Marwa said this on Wednesday in Lagos during the commissioning of the NDLEA Marine Command, a facility built and donated by the British government.
He said: “I must express my deep gratitude to the British High Commission in Nigeria for believing in this project and deeming it worthy of His Majesty’s investment. The high standard of work carried out speaks volumes about the UK Government’s commitment to supporting our efforts.
“More recently, a similar building with state-of-the-art facilities was handed over to NDLEA by the UK Government at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, as well as a series of capacity-building initiatives and provision of equipment by the Home Office’s International Affairs Department. This has strengthened the capabilities of the agency’s staff and resulted in an incredible number of drug seizures and arrests. We are deeply grateful to the UK Government and its agencies for their efforts.”
“According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), more than 80 percent of international trade is carried by sea, and the proportion is even higher in developing countries.” This applies equally to the illegal drug trade. Masu. Because maritime routes have long been exploited by drug traffickers due to the vast expanse of open sea and the complexity of maritime law and jurisdiction. “Illegal drug trafficking through maritime routes poses a serious threat, not only in terms of drug proliferation, but also in terms of its links with organized crime, terrorism and human trafficking,” the NDLEA director added.
He similarly said: “Recent records from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime show that West Africa remains an important transit area for drugs, most of which originate from South America.” In the past two years, there have been at least four human trafficking cases involving commercial ships from South America to Nigeria (apart from cases where drugs were hidden in cargo containers). These incidents demonstrate that maritime corridors provide transportation for illegal human trafficking operations. ”
He said the recent operational successes recorded by NDLEA in waterways and ports justified his decision to upgrade the agency’s Marine Corps to a full-fledged command in 2022.
“We made no mistake in elevating the Marine Corps to a full-fledged command in 2022. The balance sheet for drug arrests and seizures at sea continues to trend upwards. In cooperation with enforcement agencies, 61,688.79 kg of various drugs were seized and 41 suspects were arrested, 15 of whom have already been charged and imprisoned. Through various port operations over the past three years, authorities have seized cocaine. “We have seized at least 750 tonnes of illegal drugs, ranging from codeine, tramadol, methamphetamine and roud,” he said.
While calling for continued cooperation between various security agencies operating within the maritime space, Mr. Marwa said, “The operations of our Special Marines in the Lagos waterways demonstrate the increasing complexity of maritime drug trafficking. It shows,” he said. In addition to commercial vessels, private vessels such as luxury yachts, converted pump boats, and fishing trawlers are also used in this growing drug trade. Countering this threat, as is currently the case, requires intensive coastal surveillance and cooperation between security agencies to track, search and profile various vessels on waterways. ”
He expressed delight that what began as an idea has crystallized into an operational physical structure, and thanked all those involved in making the project a reality. .
He said: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Lagos State Governor for his immense goodwill in creating a favorable operating environment for all our commands.The Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Navy for synergizing with the NDLEA. I would also like to express my gratitude to Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, whose synergy with NDLEA will contribute to our series of successes in the maritime sector. The Department of Security has been very supportive. We would also like to thank the Managing Directors of Eco Atlantic and Satellite Oil and Gas for providing space in this headquarters. Masu.”
In his remarks, British Deputy High Commissioner Johnny Baxter justified the UK Government’s support for NDLEA’s work.
He said: “It was also great to see such a wide range of people come together for this event, because it shows how committed our Nigerian partners and colleagues are to what the work that really matters is. That’s why.” NDLEA’s efforts to combat drug trafficking. We in the UK support businesses that work for a variety of reasons. The rise in drug detections in both Nigeria and the UK tells us two things.
“Firstly, it is clear that we need to work together to combat drug trafficking, but it also shows that our efforts are paying off. of drugs from crossing the border and destroying more and more gangs. This is important for the people of both countries and for both countries, but the reality is that people whose lives are being disrupted by this crime. But as we all know, there’s still a lot of work to do, and it definitely continues.”
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Abimbola Hundein, said, “The presence of the NDLEA in Lagos is critical in curbing illegal drug trade.” Your efforts not only protected the public, but also improved the safety and well-being of our entire state. ”
He added: “Today’s inauguration of the NDLEA Marine Command, thanks to a generous donation from the UK Government, marks a significant milestone in our collective fight against drug-related crime.” This highlights the importance of international cooperation and strategic partnerships in tackling the global challenge of drug trafficking, especially in coastal areas like Lagos. I, therefore, on behalf of the Government and the good people of Lagos State, express my sincere gratitude to the British Government for this valuable contribution. This will further strengthen NDLEA’s ability to more effectively patrol our nation’s waters and deter illegal drug activity. ”
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