The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, at a ceremony in Badagry on Tuesday, destroyed a total of 304,436kg kilograms and 40,042 liters of illicit substances seized from parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

According to the PUNCH, the Chairman of the agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), speaking at the ceremony, said the open destruction of the seized illicit drugs followed court orders while calling the public for more support on the ongoing efforts by the NDLEA and other stakeholders to curb the menace of substance abuse and illegal drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Marwa said, “Though a routine exercise and an established process of removing dangerous substances from our society, the public destruction of confiscated illicit drugs is usually conducted at the end of their related cases in court, which include illicit drugs in solid and liquid states as well as in various classes such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and tramadol, among others.”

He said the drugs were seized by the NDLEA operatives across different agency formations in Lagos and Ogun states from January 2022 till date, especially at the Lagos seaports, airports, and land borders.

“To be destroyed here today on the order of the court are solid drugs, weighing 304,436.055kg and 40,042—six hundred twenty-one liters of liquid medications. The sheer volume of the drug haul speaks volumes about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld.

“The destruction of these seizures complies with the NDLEA Act, which mandates the agency to destroy all drug exhibits after prosecution. We want to say that your presence here is a testament to this important occasion. To this end, we appreciate all stakeholders and members of the public for witnessing this exercise”, he added.

He also acknowledged the support of the agency’s local and international partners, especially the American Drug Enforcement Administration, the United Kingdom NCA, the Border Force, the Germans, and the French and Indian NCB, among others who had worked with the agency on several busts. “Similarly, we appreciate the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies such as the customs, immigration, police, civil defense; FRSC; NFIU, NAFDAC, and others that have been supporting our efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs,” he said.

While assuring that the NDLEA will not relent in its efforts to end the drug scourge in the country, Marwa called for more public support for the activities of the agency.