No fewer than 174 suspects have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) including the village head of Dikwala in Zuru Local Government area of Kebbi State , Mallam Musa Gade for cultivating 13 hectares of Indian hemp farms.

The State NDLEA Comman-der Barrister Ogilegwu Ona who disclosed this weekend, at a rally on prevention of illicit drug crop cultivation, drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Birnin Kebbi, said apart from the arrested village head, Indian hemp plantations were destroyed, while 359.3kg of illicit drugs were seized in the state.

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BAUCHI-The Bauchi State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a supervisory councilor in one of the local governments in Bauchi State for a drug related offence. Six others were arrested for a similar offence.

Parading the suspects before the news men in Bauchi, the state command of NDLEA, Sule Momodu said the suspects were arrested with 23.9 kilogram of Indian hemp and psychotropic substances.

Momodu said the command acted on intelligent information received from the public, he lamented the act of a youth councilor that suppose to discourage the youths in involving in drugs but the councilor himself was into drug.

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have destroyed 13 hectares of cannabis plantation at Dikwala village of Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The 40 years old village head of Dikwala, Danjuma Wade, and Gambo Zugu, 50 years old have been arrested in connection with the illegal cultivation.

The discovery of the cannabis farm and the arrest of Danjuma Wade is said to be the first case of cannabis cultivation to be recorded in the history of Kebbi State command.

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National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said it has received a total of 2,630 visa clearance applications from Nigerians travelling to different drug producing countries, from January 2006 to July 2008.

However, out of this number, only three were unsuccessful. No reason was given for the denial.

The administrative fee of N10,000 paid by each applicant for the period under review has also yielded over N26million, into the government coffers.

It revealed that 609 applications were received in 2006, while the following year, the number increased to 1,004.

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* Our battles with them - Agency Commander

*'How dealers beheaded pregnant law enforcement agent'

The business of cannabis in Edo State is a very lucrative one, particularly for farmers in Edo North Senatorial District. The soil in the area is very fertile for the growth of the illegal drug general known as Indian hemp. The war against drug dealers in the state has not been an easy one for men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

There are areas in Edo North where the law enforcement agents would dare not to invade. However, they track the barons in the night when they convey the drugs to Abuja or Lagos where they make more money from the illegal business.

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In what appears as a perpetual fraud, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Kaduna, The Campaign against Substance and Drug Abuse (CASADA), has allegedly swindled the government of 2 million naira in the name of organising a workshop against drug abuse among youths.

The NGO, CASADA had, in, July 17, 2007 approached the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commandant, Mohammed Malami Sokoto to collaborate and hold a workshop on the menace of drug abuse among youths in Zaria , of which a covering letter was written to the Governor Namadi Sambo by NDLEA, and he approved the sum.

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THE Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in Edo State, Mr. Okey Ihebom, says some of the sentences given to drug barons by the courts are discouraging to law enforcement agencies in the country, saying that the activities of the barons would persist unless they are given more severe punishment by the courts.

The NDLEA Commander who disclosed that over five thousand bags of Indian hemp were seized in the state since January this year till date, regretted that out of eighty-one suspects that were taken to court since the beginning of the year, only twenty persons were convicted.

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FOLLOWING their traditions of recklessness driving and other road traffic violation on the nation's highways, The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said it will conduct drugs and mental examination on Julius Berger Plc drivers nationwide.

Corp Marshall and Chief Executive, FRSC, Mr. Osita Chidoka revealed this weekend at a meeting with the management of Julius Berger Plc, particularly convened in the aftermath of the road traffic accident involving Julius Berger's truck and a commercial bus which led to the dead of sixteen people in Kubwa, an outskirt of Abuja.

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The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, has reiterated his call for stiffer penalty for drug culprits.

Giade made the call on Sunday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during a routine visit as three suspected drug traffickers, including a 19-year-old man, were arrested for ingesting illicit drugs by the airport command the previous week were placed on observation.

The NDLEA boss said the involvement of anybody in drug trafficking could smear the image of the country because "we all carry the same passport."

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Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Lagos State Governor Tuesday urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to identify and educate growers of Indian hemp on its harmful effects on the society .

A statement by the government quoted Fashola as giving the advice at an event to mark this year's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

She said it was pertinent to educate the growers to utilise the land for food products that would benefit them and the society.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reiterated its determination to commence the screening of all top government functionaries, particularly aides to state governors while travelling out of the country.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists at the agency's Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Ikeja, Lagos office yesterday, NDLEA Director-General/ Secretary, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, said the action was meant to prevent the usage of the presidential wing and lounge of the nation's airports for drug trafficking.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which was established to combat drug trafficking and abuse, has through the years, put in relentless efforts at ensuring that the Nigerian ports and other various points through which illicit drugs are smuggled in and out of the country are secure.

Their efforts have paid off and received wide acceptance and acknowledgement by the international community, thereby creating avenues for partnership with similar agencies abroad, the most recent and fruitful being the partnership between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States government through its ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Robin Sanders.

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PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator David Mark and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoaka (SAN), have called for 15 years minimum jail term for drug offenders in the country.

They made the call in Abuja at a ceremony to round off this year's International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug trafficking.

Mark, who was the special guest of honour, also requested for five minutes silence as a mark of respect and honour for officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who died in the line of duty.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has advocated the deployment of agricultural extension workers to the FCT area councils, to assist in the campaign against the cultivation of Indian hemp.

Malam Hamza Dayi, the NDLEA area commander, Abuja Airport, who made the call in an interview in Gwagwalada, FCT, said the measure was the only solution to the problem.

Dayi said the recent discovery of some Indian hemp farms in FCT was alarming, and called for a proactive approach to prevent its replication in some neighbouring states.

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In its bid to rid the society of illicit drugs, Edo State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has impounded 71,000 kilogrammes of Indian hemp and arrested 300 persons.

It also impounded 15 vehicles used for conveying the drugs and facilitated the conviction of 18 suspects, while 10 are still awaitng prosecution.

Edo State Director of NDLEA, Mr Okey Ihebom, said this while briefing newsmen in Benin, weekend.

According to him, the seizures were made between January and June this year, adding that this year's figure may tripple that of last year where 76,000 kilogrammes of carnabis was publicly burnt on January 26, 2008.

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Despite lack of adequate working facilities in its command, the Gombe State command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has recorded over 90 percent success in the rehabilitation of drug dependent persons in the state over the last two years.

The state commander of the agency, Ishaku Iliya who made this known during a press briefing marking the 2008 United Nations International day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, therefore, renewed the appeal to the state government to establish a rehabilitation centre in the state.

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The United States Government last week donated a body scanning X-ray machine to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The x-ray scanner machine was inaugurated at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Robin Renee Sanders.

Sanders said the gesture is part of efforts to support Nigeria in combating drug trafficking.

She informed that apart from the scanner x-ray machine at Lagos Airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano Airport also have the scanner machines installed.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) which was established to combat drug trafficking and abuse, has through the years put in relentless efforts at ensuring that the Nigerian ports and other various points in which illicit drugs are smuggled in and out of the country are secured.

An effort which have paid of and received wider acceptance and acknowledgement by the International Community, thereby creating awareness for partnership with similar agencies abroad. The most recent and fruitful being the partnership between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the United States government through its ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Robin Sanders.

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Of all the states in the federation, Ekiti prides itself as the "Fountain of Knowledge". This is because virtually every family in the state claims to have a professor or a doctoral degree holder.

The state is also famous for producing some of the best intellectuals in the academia, including Dr. Mojola Agbebi, the first Ph.D. holder in Africa in 1867.

It is also famed for producing the first woman B.Sc degree holder in 1946, Lady Deborah Jibowu, and Nigeria's first indigenous permanent secretary, J.B. Daramola, in 1948.

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One, two, three, no stopping, no waffling. It's time to do things differently. Who cares if I sound like I've gone off my rockers? I'm just angry at everybody who should do something constructive for Nigeria sitting on their hands. If we entered an agreement to work within some constitution, is there also a covenant to work with what is not working and watch our national life go to the dogs?

Our prisons are congested, yet we keep convicting more Nigerians. That's what we've done since time immemorial but has it stopped Nigerians from investing in crime? Since the eneke nti oba bird has learnt to fly without perching, how about the hunter shooting without missing? If we have an ingenious Nigerian who can swallow 66 wraps of cocaine, why should the NDLEA bother with giving him purgatives to get the stuff out of his bowels? How about serving him a hot bowl of 'fufu' and 'ogbono' soup plus a keg of palm wine? That should help the cocaine settle nicely down there. And if his cargo kills him, a postmortem will teach our medical students a few things about what happens when cocaine and palm wine are mixed. It'd make a good story too. For me, it is better to let what a drug courier likes to swallow kill him than waste a judge's time and further congest the prisons. Let NDLEA stop providing toilet services to drug couriers.

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