NDLEA Convicts 1,242 Drug Traffickers In 6 Months

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade said that the Agency has successfully won the conviction of one thousand, two hundred and forty-two (1,242) drug traffickers at the Federal High Courts. This is contained in the prosecution scorecard of the Agency in the first half of the year 2014.
The NDLEA boss who made the disclosure noted that since drug trafficking is a highly lucrative crime, the punishment must be commensurate. “Drug trafficking is a highly lucrative crime. It is therefore logical that there should be stiffer punishment to serve as deterrent to others. The NDLEA shall remain committed to its legal policy of making drug traffickers accountable for their criminal acts. Every infringement against the provisions of the Act must be pursued to a logical conclusion” Giade stated.
Most of the convicts were sentenced to between three and a half to fifteen years imprisonment. Some notable cases include that of Asirah Onyongha who was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on a two count charge of cultivation and dealing in hemp in Cross Rivers State. In Nasarawa State, one Chinonso Onuchukwu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for unlawful dealing in cannabis.
Another convict, Bala Garba also got 10 years imprisonment for dealing in cannabis in Niger State. In Lagos, Okafor Tochukwu Benjamin was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for attempting to export cocaine. Onwuka Ichi Ukaeagbu was in addition to three and half years imprisonment made to forfeit the sum of eight thousand, eight hundred dollars.

Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs