NDLEA to destroy 1.8 tons of cocaine seized in Lagos

About 1.8 tons of cocaine recovered from a warehouse in the Ikorodu area of Lagos last week by the personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will be destroyed by the agency.

Femi Babafemi, the spokesman for the agency in a statement on Tuesday recalled that NDLEA operatives had invaded a warehouse in Solebo estate Ikorodu and seized 1.8 tons of cocaine.

Five suspects including a Jamaican were arrested in the well-coordinated and intelligence-led operation, he said.

He said following the historical seizure, which is the largest in the Agency’s history, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos has been obtained for the public destruction of the illegal consignment.

The chairman of NDLEA explained that the ”sheer volume of the drug haul, with a street value of $278, 250,000, equivalent to N194, 775,000,000, speaks volumes about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld”.

The spokesman informed that 1,828 blocks of cocaine out of the 1.8-ton seized, will be crushed and set ablaze while the remnant would be secured for purpose of prosecution of the suspects who were brought to witness the procedure and sign the certificate of destruction.

The statement explained, “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.”

The statement added that since 25th January 2021, when the agency commenced its 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, Babafemi said.

The spokesman said the burst of the syndicate responsible for the cocaine warehoused in Ikorodu is a message to drug cartels that their investments in the illicit drug trade would go up in flames, adding that they also risk losing their freedom because the present NDLEA is committed to arresting, prosecuting and ensuring the conviction of those involved in illicit drugs.