Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), reportedly intercepted a truckload of Codeine syrup disguised as malaria tablets yesterday, in Funtua, Katsina State.
The seized drugs also led to the arrest of people directly and indirectly linked to the transportation of the drugs, which though not illegal, has been abused by most Nigerian youths.
Here are photos below;
Few months ago, Nigeria’s senate president, Bukola Saraki raised alarm over the rising cases of drug abuse in the northern part of the country. Saraki, in a post on his social media page, stated that the drug menace in the North needed to be addressed in a sensible and urgent manner.
“I am particularly worried about the drug menace in the Northern part of the country. It is time that we recognize this problem and address it in a sensible manner. I will be pushing for the National Assembly to review all relevant laws on abuse. This will help to curb the widespread misuse of illegal and unsanitary substances. The Senate will engage with all relevant stakeholders as we initiate this process’ he said.
Drug abuse causes a wide range of medical, mental and behavioural disorder which increases violence, criminal behaviour and exposes young people to sexual misconduct, STIs and HIV/AIDS. This makes the crime of drug trafficking (that is the illegal cultivation, manufacture distribution and sale of substances subject to drug prohibition laws) a serious affair in every country.
Governments at all levels, as well as parents and guardians, are encouraged to better understand the crime and effect of drug abuse and trafficking. Incidentally, a reference work titled “How Drug Addiction Threatens A Generation Of Northern Women”, published by ICIRNIGERIA, shows that the menace is not gender-sensitive.
The work shows that even women are becoming more and more in the negatives consequences of drug and its abuse.
The investigations show that “a great percentage of young women across northern Nigeria, including students of tertiary institutions, working class ladies, married women and a vast majority of unemployed girls, are hooked on drugs.”
