ABUJA – The FCT Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has stepped up its anti-narcotics campaign and surveillance to curtail drug trafficking in the FCT.
Mr Peter Adegbe, Public Relations Officer of the Command, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
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Adegbe said as part of measures to rid the FCT of narcotics, especially in view of the forthcoming elections, the agency had increased surveillance at all entry points into the FCT.
He said that the Abaji, Gwawalada, Bwari and AMAC area commands of the agency had been beefed up with personnel to tackle the menace of drug trafficking in the FCT.
“I can assure you that the command has stepped up surveillance and raids in an around the FCT as part of efforts to curtail drug trafficking.
“Our specially trained officers are on ground at all entry points into the FCT, the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, and even at the courier and transport companies to check and seize any illicit drugs,’’ he said.
The spokesman said the command was also using sniffer dogs and more sophisticated equipment and scanners to detect those trying to smuggle the substance into the FCT either by road or through the airport.
He said the command had also intensified workshops and training for its personnel in line with international best practice so as to be in tune with the latest operational standards.
He said apart from the clamp down on traffickers, the NDLEA had increased its campaigns to sensitise the people, especially youths, to the dangers of illicit drugs.
“ One of the policies of the NDLEA is to reduce the demand of these substances as much as possible and the strategy we use is education and sensitisation of the general public,’’ he said.
Adegbe said the command was now focusing its campaigns on strategic places such as schools, motor parks, entertainment joints, hotels so as to educate the public on the dangers of illicit drugs.
According to him, the agency was working with relevant Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other security agencies in this regard.
He called on parents to keep a close watch on their children and wards to ensure that they did not join bad company that would lure them into the use of narcotic drugs.
He said the campaign became more imperative in view of the forthcoming elections and the tendency that some unscrupulous politicians could lure youths into the illicit act.
Adegbe called on Abuja residents to be vigilant and report any person suspected to be involved in the illicit act to the nearest NDLEA office or security agency.
He said the use of narcotic drugs posed a great danger to the health of individuals, saying that most of the psychiatric cases in the nation’s hospitals occurred as a result of intake of narcotics.
He warned that the agency would arrest and prosecute anyone caught with narcotics in line with the laws of the land. (NAN)
