The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has set ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine recovered by the agency from a warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos last week.
The agency, in an operation that lasted two days last week, stormed a hidden warehouse at 6 Olukunola street, Solebo estate Ikorodu where 1.8 tons of cocaine were recovered and five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested.
A Federal High Court in Lagos granted an order for the public destruction of the consignment, a statement by the agency’s spokesperson Femi Babafemi has said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the venue of the public destruction in Badagry area of Lagos Tuesday, NDLEA Chairman Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), represented by the agency’s Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Deputy Commander General of Narcotics Sunday Joseph, said the sheer volume of the drug haul, with street value put N194. 77 billion ($278, 250,000), speaks volume about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld.
He said this has made it imperative for Nigerians to continue to support NDLEA in the renewed war against illicit drugs.
He said out of the 1.8-ton seizure, 1, 828 blocks of the cocaine will be crushed and set ablaze while the remnant will be secured for purpose of prosecution of the suspects who were brought to witness the procedure and sign the certificate of destruction.
According to the NDLEA boss, the agency is proceeding with the prosecution of those arrested in connection with this consignment. On this, the public can rest assured that NDLEA shall pursue the trial to a logical conclusion.
Since January 25, 2021, when we commenced our offensive action against drug traffickers, the agency has secured record convictions. Presently, 2, 904 drug offenders are serving various jail terms, while other cases are ongoing in court, which we are confident will end in positive results too.
