Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2003
Source: Vanguard (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2003 Vanguard.
Contact:  http://www.vanguardngr.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2890
Author: Kingsley Omonobi
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

4 NDLEA OFFICERS, POLICEMAN WOUNDED IN GUN DUEL WITH ILLICIT DRUG DEALERS

WARRI -- FOUR Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency 
(NDLEA) and one policeman received gunshot injuries after a fierce battle 
with drug dealers last Wednesday when the NDLEA officials stormed their 
supply route in Abbi, Ndokwa local government.

Commander of the NDLEA in Delta State, Aju Okopi-Amen who confirmed the 
shoot-out to Vanguard yesterday noted that over 200kg of cannabis was 
seized after the incident while three person were arrested.

According to the NDLEA commander, his men acting on information, had gone 
to Abbi to smash the drug cartel there, but unknown to them, the drug 
dealers were ready with arms to thwart it. "On sighting my men, they opened 
fire, we then responded and subdued them with the help of the police who 
were also with us.

"In fact, if you see the vehicle we took there, about four of them were 
riddled with bullets you will be shocked how far these drugs dealers can 
go", he said.

The NDLEA, he said would not be slowed down in the discharge of its duties, 
Mr. Okopi,Amen said "even a serving military personnel was caught about two 
months ago, the Army authorities promptly discharged him and we tried him 
and right now he is in jail for three years.

The NDLEA boss disclosed that a lot of mental psychosis patients parading 
the streets of Warri and other cities in Delta State were the handiwork of 
cannabis and other deadly drugs saying, "it will surprise you to know that 
even among schools, Delta State has more drop-outs than any other state in 
the federation due to the related drugs usage."

Commenting on why some countries went ahead to legalize the usage of 
marijuana, Okopi-Amen who noted that the headquarters of the Agency in 
Warri would soon relocate to Asaba, Ogwashi Uku, pointed out that "the 
(cannabis) we have in Nigeria is the deadliest form of marijuana. What they 
take in those places don't land them in hospital because they have a limit.

"Aside this, here, we don't have the quality of medical facilities we need 
to be able to cope with the problem that will arise from cannabis intake."

Okopi-Amen said that so far, this year, 70 persons have been convicted in a 
federal high court Benin and jailed.
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