Crime
NDLEA visits NAGAFF compliance team, seek synergy against drugs in ports
.."more than 11 freight Forwarders in jail for using licenses for importers," - Tanko
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) visited the !00 percent Compliance team of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) in continued war against drug abuse in Nigeria
The agency also introduced the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) project introduced by the Chief Executive Officer of the agency, recently.
The NDLEA Port Commander, Narcotic Commander (NC) Aminu Abubakar who lamented the damages drug abusive has caused in the lives of youths, sought the support of the group to help nip the menace in the bud.
He warned importers and their agents to desist from illicit drug importation and drug clearance from the ports even as he maintained need for sensitisation of stakeholders.
He also enjoined them to stick to legitimate trade and avoid spread of hard drugs through the seaports.
Abubakar noted that since the NDLEA launched the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) in Abuja, several seizures have been made during cargo examination at the ports with l freight forwarders arrested and jailed for l involved or accomplices in the importation of hard drugs.
The NDLEA boss stated that from January 2022 till date, the agency has intercepted 1,500 Kilograms of Tapendatol with a value of over N6 million aside other seizures.
He said, “The agency has different units and strategies through which we fight the menace and monster of drug abuse, drug trafficking into our country.
“This is the suppression of the supply of drugs which we do at the seaports. We profile some containers at the seaports and base on the profile, we target such consignment and ensure we conduct proper examination. Sometimes we work with intelligence information or on the basis of profile which informs what we do.”
“The agency has some strategies which include counselling drug abusers and public enlightenment on the effects and prevention of drug abuse. There are also rehabilitation centers. The Chairman of the NDLEA recently launched call centers which would soon be operational, where you can report issues or seek for help. This is what WADA is about
“We have gotten 1500 kilograms of Tapendatol drug worth over N6million from Apapa and Tin Can ports. We can only imagine what it will do if it gets to places where it is intended. Nigeria is already in crisis. We have the problem of banditry, kidnappings and youth restiveness and the root cause of these acts emanate from abuse of drugs.”
In his response, the National Coordinator of 100 percent Compliance team of NAGAFF, Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim told the NDLEA boss how freight Forwarders fall victims drug crimes.
He said they used their company names and licences to help importers import consignments from abroad in the process of trying to get customers.
He assured NDLEA team of the group’s support, the NAGAFF Compliance boss noted that about eleven members of NAGAFF have been innocently detained in prison due to such acts.
He called on freight Forwarders to should should desist from using their company name to ship in consignments in favour of the importers to avoid being liable when there are infractions.
“We have already started this fight from our Importers Association. 60 percent of our freight forwarders are using their licences to import because every one is looking for customers.
“Instead of allowing the importer to use his name to import he might bribe you to use your name because he doesn’t have a company. When those containers are shipped they sometimes find drugs in them.
“There are many freight forwarders who have been innocently jailed due to this. We currently have more than 11 of our members who are in prison. Money is good but don’t give your company name for such activities,” Tanko said.
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