National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, confiscated a total of 339,968kg of illicit drugs with an estimated street value of N34 billion in 2013.
Similarly, the World Drug Report 2014 has scored Nigeria higher than other African countries in cannabis seizure.
This was made known on Thursday in Abuja during the dissemination meeting for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, 2014 World Drug report and International Narcotic Control Board, INCB, 2013 report.
In his keynote address, chairman/chief executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade stressed that the Agency will continue to intensify its cannabis control mandate geared towards ensuring a crime free society and peaceful election in 2015. “Cannabis is the common drug of abuse in Nigeria and as the election year 2015 draws nearer, we are fine tuning our strategies to cut off supply and ensure a crime-free election and a healthy society for all” the NDLEA boss stated.
Illicit drugs seized in 2013 by the NDLEA weighed 339,968kg with an estimated street value of N34 billion.
The breakdown is as follows; cannabis 205,373kg, psychotropic substances 133,920kg, methamphetamine 340.8kg and cocaine 290.2kg. Others are heroin 24.53kg, amphetamine 19.297 and ephedrine 0.28 grams. In 2013 alone, a total of 3,271 drug dependent persons were successfully counseled in NDLEA facilities nationwide. This comprises of 3,062 males and 209 females. Additional 802 treated cases were reported by hospitals and other drug dependence treatment centres in Nigeria.
According to the reports which were presented by Professor Isidore Obot, Head of Psychology Department, University of Uyo, Nigeria was rated highest in cannabis seizure in Africa. “Nigeria remains the country with the largest seizures of cannabis in the region followed by Egypt” the report stated. The report added that cannabis is the most prominent drug in offences for possession for personal use. With regards to trafficking offences, Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) is prominent in Asia and cocaine in the Americas.
UNODC country representative Mariam Sissoko stated that this year’s World Drug Report shows that “around 243 million people, aged 15-64 consumed an illicit drug in 2012. Out of this number, problem drug users, those who have most difficulties with drug consumption, account for around 27 million or 1 in every 200 people”.