14 containers of illicit substances seized in Apapa in one year: NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Apapa Command, says it seized 14 containers with different types of psychotropic drugs in the last year.

The Assistant Commander General of Narcotics, Buba Wakawa (ACGN), made this known during the joint grand finale by Apapa and Tin-Can Strategic Seaport Commands of NDLEA.

The programme was in commemoration of the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention. Break the Cycle”.

The United Nations set aside June 26 to create awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and illicit trafficking and their rippling effects on the health, economy, and security of society.

Mr Wakawa said notable among the drugs seized were 744,635 bottles of codeine-based syrups and 36,652,460 tablets of tramadol with a gross weight of 131,920.7 kg.

The commander said the agency had one common enemy: the drug dealers and peddlers who were ever ready to break the law for wealth, create the monster of insecurity, and jeopardise the entire health of the nation.

He stated that even though the maritime sector was a global source of wealth, “unscrupulous elements” were turning it into a haven for the illicit drug business.

“This was to get high, enhance performance, and have social pleasure without a medical reason. We will not tolerate this in the maritime corridors,” Mr Wakawa said.

Mr Wakawa said the 2018 UN Drugs Survey estimated that 14.3 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 64 had used drugs in the preceding years.

In his view, Omotayo Ajirotutu, a medical psychologist at the Federal Neuro-psychiatrist Hospital, Yaba, said an average private treatment at government hospitals costs between N800,000 and N1.5 million per month to treat patients affected by drug abuse.

Mr Ajirotutu lamented the high cost of treating patients, calling on every parent to be observant, monitor, and relate with their children.

He called for collaborative efforts by law enforcement agencies, churches, mosques, and NGOs to reach out to the communities, constituencies, and wards, as the damages were extensive.

Also, Callys Alumona, Tin Can Island Strategy Port, said the command has been able to break the supply chain, adding that between June 2024 to date, the command had mopped up over 30 tonnes of illicit drugs, which include tramadol and cocaine.

Mr Alumona said the command had worked with the British Border Force and international agencies to get intelligence.

He said some of these ships transcend from several countries to bring the illicit substances to the country’s shores.

Mr Alumona noted that the command would continue to mop it up before it gets to the shores of Nigeria.

In his goodwill message, controller, Apapa Customs Command, Babatunde Olomu, urged Nigerians to support the government in the fight against illicit drugs to discourage economic saboteurs from illegal operations.

(NAN)