Authorities of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano, northern Nigeria have cried out over the of Indian Hemp and trafficking of Mitaphetanine substance via Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
Mr. Sumaila Ethan, Kano state NDLEA Commander in a press conference to mark United Nation Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking, on Tuesday said within Commander of the narcotic Agency, Mr. Sumaila Ethan who disclosed that within six months, his Command recorded the seizure of 1, 915.39 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs with 358 suspects arrested, said his Command was taking drastic measures to checkmate trafficking of Indian Hemp otherwise known as cannabis into Kano.
“The drug barons we know here in Kano are traffickers of Indian Hemp. The substance is so widely consumed because it is very cheap. Youths have taking it as alternative because with N10 or N20, they can afford it, so they take to it instead of going to inhale the toilet ooze or consume Lizard dung, but we are seriously fighting the scourge.”
According to him, out of the suspects arrested, 93 were convicted, while 273 drug dependent persons were counseled and reintegrated back into the society.
He noted that the 2012 theme of UN Drug-Free Day—Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs, was chosen to ensure that every sector of the society feel a sense of responsibility to do their part in addressing the drug challenge.
“In Africa, Nigeria through the NDLEA is leading the onslaught against the drug menace. An analysis of the 2011 scorecard of the NDLEA shows that the Agency publicly destroyed 134,000 kilogrammes of illicit drugs and 918 hectares of cannabis farm lands, seized over 195, 283.917 kilogrammes of various drug exhibits and arrested about 2, 000 suspects.
“Out of the total quantity of seized drugs, cannabis/hemp locally produced in Nigeria and currently a nagging threat to the nation’s food security, constituted the largest with 191, 847.91 kilogrammes. Further analysis of the scorecard revealed that Kano state Command arrested the highest number of suspects with 1, 281 persons—a stark indication of a dangerous descent to binge consumption,” he stated.
According to him, the bane of illicit drugs “has been associated with a lot of high risk behaviours including unprotected sex and violence as well as crime, traffic accidents, mental and physical health problems.”
The NDLEA boss further noted that drug problem is no longer a dealer’s or an addict’s problem, “it transcends national human problem, thus a global problem that tug at the heart of humanity. Yet, despite the challenges posed by drugs, its impact can be mitigated.
“The quest for measures to mitigate the effect is in the focus of significant thought and action by the global community. The UNODC champions the World drug campaign and prescribes well thought out themes and slogans to drive the crusade.”
His counterpart at the MAKIA sector Command, Mr. Umoru Ambrose said three suspects have been prosecuted and jailed for trafficking in Mitaphetanine substance via the airport to Asian countries.
He stated that in the last one year, MAKIA sector Command has confiscated 14.851 kilogrammes of narcotics out of which 13.851 kilogramme were substances suspected to be Mitaphetanine.
“Mitaphetanine is largely consumed in the Asian world, it is not as expensive as cocaine. We are trying to ensure that the traffickers in these illicit drugs do not create local market here in Kano,” he said.