The Federal Government announced on Wednesday that the National Criminal Law Enforcement Agency destroyed N194 billion in cocaine seized from a drug ring since it is not a drug dealer. As a result, the material had no commercial value.
Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, explained this to State House Correspondents shortly after the weekly Council meeting presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Malami claimed that, while a tiny quantity of the material was kept as evidence in court, the remainder of it was burned since the government couldn’t find another legitimate purpose for it.
In what has been adjudged as the highest singular cocaine seizure in the NDLEA’s 32-year history, the anti-narcotics agency from September 18 – 19, 2022, carried out an operation that led to the seizure of 1,855 kilograms of cocaine (worth N194bn) from an Ikorodu warehouse in Lagos, arresting of five persons in the process.
ANAEDOONLINE.NG reported the warehouse was raided, Sunday, September 18, 2022, while the barons were picked from hotels and their hideouts in various parts of Lagos between Sunday night and Monday, September 19.
Cocaine Deal: NDLEA Confirms Arrest Of Abba Kyari Other 4 Policemen
On Tuesday, the NDLEA tweeted a video showing the seized drugs being set ablaze.
Asked why the agency resorted to burning especially when the cocaine could serve as an exhibit in court, the AGF said “they were burnt because we are not drug dealers, our obligation is to ensure that they are eliminated and stopped from circulating in the system. There should be evidence and the evidence are there, accordingly profiled before being destroyed.”
According to him, not all the cargo was destroyed and the government cannot exchange cocaine for cash as that would also mean trading drugs.
He said, “Even the Chairman mentioned it, they retained a little to us in court, but destroyed most of it and was witnessed by the people that carried it. It was also in the news that was carried.
“Most of it was destroyed and I think somebody was saying why should they destroy something worth N194b, but if the government were to start trading that, we’ll become drug dealers as well. We cannot derive an economic benefit from it, but to destroy it, because you don’t want drugs circulating.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.