NDLEA seeks partnership with Customs, others to curb drug trafficking, abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant stakeholders to fight drug trafficking and abuse in the country.

The Apapa Commander of NDLEA, Mr Noah Ndutong, made the call yesterday in Apapa during the grand finale of the 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Ndutong said strengthening collaboration is important, especially as smugglers utilise the seaports to bring in hard drugs under false declaration of consignments.

Recall that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, last week, said ongoing collaborative efforts between the NCS and the NDLEA yielded positive results. This came in the interception, within one month, of illicit drugs worth over N4.1 billion imported from Canada and India, at Tin Can Island Port.

According to Ndutong, the theme of this year’s Day, ‘The evidence is clear, invest in prevention’, calls for increased collaboration to tackle the menace.

He said with joint efforts from other stakeholders and sister agencies, the work of NDLEA would be easier.

The NDLEA boss warned that the chances of coming overcoming drug abuse are slim; hence Nigerians should invest more in prevention.

He vowed that the agency would drive drug dealers out of business, adding that hard drugs are a major contributor to crimes and criminality in the country.

Speaking earlier, the Apapa Area Commander of the NCS, Babatunde Olomu, noted that drug abuse hinders national development.

He assured that the command was on same page with NDLEA and other stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in the country, which had been evident in massive seizures at the ports.

He said drug abuse fuels insecurity and urged all agencies and stakeholders to fight the menace. He also called for all hands to be on deck to achieve total elimination of the menace.