The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) will destroy the 1.8 tonnes of cocaine it found in a warehouse last week in the Ikorodu neighbourhood of Lagos.
In a statement on Tuesday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, remembered that NDLEA agents had broken into a warehouse in the Solebo estate in Ikorodu and taken 1.8 tonnes of cocaine.
In the well-planned and intelligence-led operation, five individuals, including a Jamaican, were detained, he said.
According to him, an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos has been obtained for the public destruction of the illicit cargo following the historic seizure, which was the largest in the Agency’s history.
“The sheer scale of the drug haul, with a street value of $278, 250,000, equivalent to N194, 775,000,000, speaks volumes about the depth of the criminal operations of the drug underworld,” the head of NDLEA said.
Out of the 1.8 tonnes of cocaine seized, 1,828 blocks will be crushed and set ablaze, and the remainder will be stored for use in the prosecution of the suspects who were present to see the process through 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 further noted that since the agency started its offensive campaign against drug traffickers on January 25, 2021, it has obtained a record number of 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 claimed that the collapse of the syndicate in charge of the cocaine stored in Ikorodu is a warning to drug cartels that their investments in the illegal drug trade would fail. He added that they also risk losing their freedom because the current NDLEA is dedicated to apprehending, prosecuting, and securing the conviction of those involved in illegal drugs.
