The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Tuesday destroyed 304,436kg kilograms and 40,042 litres of illicit substances seized from parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

Speaking at a brief ceremony where the seized drugs were publicly destroyed in Badagry Lagos, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said the open destruction of the seized illicit drugs followed court orders, even as he called for more public support for on-going efforts by NDLEA and other stakeholders to curb the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria, according to Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, in a statement, Tuesday.

“Though a routine exercise and an established process of removing dangerous substances from our society, the public destruction of confiscated illicit drugs is usually conducted at the end of their related cases in court”, the NDLEA boss stated.

He added that the exhibits being destroyed were of mixed types, “which include illicit drugs in solid and liquid states as well as in various classes such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and tramadol, among others.”

He said the drugs were seized by NDLEA operatives across different formations of the Agency in Lagos and Ogun states from January 2022 till date, especially at the Lagos seaports, airports, and land borders.

 “Destroyed on the order of the court were solid drugs, weighing 304,436.055kg and 40,042. 621 litres of liquid drugs. 

“The sheer volume of the drug haul speaks volumes about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld,” Marwa stated.

“He commended the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA); United Kingdom NCA, Border Force; the Germans, the French; Indian NCB, the military and other law enforcement agencies for supporting NDLEA in its activities.

Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by Chairman, Badagry West Local Government, Mr. Olusegun Onilude expressed satisfaction with the efforts.