Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jan 2009
Source: This Day (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2009 This Day.
Contact:  http://www.thisdayonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2870
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

NDLEA SACKS 100 STAFF FOR AIDING DRUG BARONS

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sacked 100
members of staff involved in aiding and abetting drug deals.

Director General of NDLEA, Mr Lanre Ipinmisho, disclosed this to the
News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja at the weekend.

Ipinmisho said the staff were found aiding drug barons and drug
traffickers in their illicit trade.

He said the officers were found guilty by the disciplinary committee
set up by the agency for various offences.

"In any establishment, you always have some bad eggs. So we fished
them out and they were asked to face disciplinary action", he said.

Ipinmisho said the NDLEA was dealing with people who could do
anything under the influence of drugs, adding that corrupt staff
would not be tolerated in the agency.

Speaking on its activities, Ipinmisho said the agency had reduced the
level of drug offences within the country due to its ``tight security
measures.''

He regretted that more Nigerians were getting involved in drug
offences outside the country and denting the image of the country
abroad.

The NDLEA boss said that out of every 100 suspects anywhere in the
world, Nigeria accounts for 55 per cent.

He said that thousands of Nigerians in Diaspora were in  ails for
drug offences all over the world with about 50 on death row for the
same offence.

``Because of our tight security measures here, they are now operating
outside the country.

``It is really sad and infringes on our image,'' he 
said.

He wondered how some of the drug convicts got visas to travel abroad
while those with genuine cases were denied visas by embassies and
missions in Nigeria.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin