NDLEA Sets N194bn 1.8 Tons Cocaine Ablaze

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has burnt 1.8 tons of Cocaine, worth around N194billion recovered from the raid on a warehouse Ikorodu, Lagos.

This is even as the chairman/chief executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), said tougher time awaits drug barons and cartels operating in Nigeria if they fail to back out of their criminal trade and embrace legitimate ventures.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said Marwa gave the assurance on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 while leading stakeholders to witness the crushing and setting ablaze of 1.8 tons of cocaine recovered by the agency from a warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos last week.

The NDLEA had in a well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation that lasted two days stormed a hidden warehouse at 6 Olukunola street, Solebo Estate in Ikorodu where 1.8tons of cocaine were recovered and five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested.

Following the historical seizure, which is the largest in the agency’s history, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos was obtained for the public destruction of the consignment.

Speaking at the venue of the public destruction in Badagry area of Lagos on Tuesday, Gen. Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s director, prosecution and legal services, deputy commander general of narcotics, DCGN Sunday Joseph, said the sheer volume of the drug haul, with street value put at $278,250,000, equivalent to N194,775,000,000, 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.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA has said it was proceeding with the prosecution of those arrested in connection with the consignment.