Commander of Narcotics (CN), NDLEA, FCT Command, Mr Kabiru
Tsakuba, said the squads were inaugurated with the aim of curbing open sales
and consumption of illicit drugs in the FCT
Tsakuba said the FCT was unique because it had an
international airport where some flights come directly from drug source
countries and others from East African countries where hard drugs, such as
cocaine and heroin, could be accessed.
According to him, some may find their way into the town, in
spite of the interdiction efforts of the NDLEA officers at the airport.
“The FCT, by its nature, has high income localities inter
spaced with low income slums where drug peddlers can take advantage to deal in
drugs.
“There are individuals that can afford to buy any kind of
drugs of their desire or choice without having to bother in any way.
“These, among many reasons, therefore, creates veritable
opportunities for drug peddlers, like in other cities of the world, to trade in
this criminal substances.
“Having said this, it is important to note that the command
has been trying its best to ensure a drug-free environment in the FCT,” Tsakuwa
said.
He also pointed out that the NDLEA has been engaged in
combating the open sales of illicit drugs through two major approaches of “Drug
Supply Reduction” and “Drug Demand Reduction”.
The narcotics commander said that NDLEA created these
special squads to deal with actionable intelligence, as it comes in, with a
view to curbing illicit drug activities through dislodgement of notorious drug
joints, arrest of dealers, seizure of drugs and prosecution of offenders.
Tsakuwa disclosed that the agency had also leveraged on the
existing relationship with the community to assist it with intelligence on
areas where drug activities were high for effective control.
He added that the agency had intensified sensitisation in
schools, churches, mosques and other organisations.
He said this was with a view to educate and sensitise the
public on consequences associated with drug abuse and trafficking of drugs.
“There is an existing collaboration with parks managements
and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in both information
sharing and sensitisation.
“We have also strengthened our interdiction efforts at the
entry points via well fashioned out effective patrol strategy.
“This is along the major entry points such as Abaji- Lokoja
Road, Gwagwalada-Kwali Road, Bwari-Jere Road, Mararaba/Nyanya Road, among
others, in order to check the influx of drugs that may want to find its way
into the FCT, “he said. NAN