Drugs transported to Abuja hidden in cows – CSO

It has been revealed by the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT) that hard drugs are being smuggled into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from neighbouring states by hiding them in cows.

The group claims that drug dealers also hid their wares in bags of garri, rice, beans, and other foodstuffs, as reported by The Guardian.

Yesterday, during a road sensitization walk in a community abattoir in the Karu axis of Abuja, NACAT Operational Manager Stanley Ugagbe made the announcement.

The group began their road walk sensitization at the ECWA junction in Karu and continued through the abattoir and to the end of Abacha Road, Karu, in the company of NDLEA officers from the Abuja command.

Ugagbe stated that his group’s investigation into the neighbourhood bordering Nasarawa State led to the discovery.

He claims that the ‘notorious’ Abuja neighbourhood is a major distribution centre for narcotics like crack, codeine, molly, tramadol, refnol, rochi, rochi, and canadian loud.

Ugagbe said he learned this from a drug dealer and that most of the drugs come from Delta State, Benin City in Edo State, and Ibadan.

Through the use of banners and placards with messages such as “Friends Don’t Let Friends Do Drugs,” “Spot the sign, break the chain,” “Your Potential is Limitless Without Drugs,” “Love Yourself: Break Free from Substance Abuse,” and “Say no to drug trafficking,” the group went door to door in the neighbourhood to educate people about the dangers of drug use.

Ugagbe warned the locals against the use of hard drags, referencing Section 11, Part II of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, which makes it illegal for anyone without the proper authorization to import, manufacture, produce, process, plant, or grow drugs like cocaine, heroin, or any other form of illegal drugs.

The dangers of hard drugs, he said, extend beyond the users themselves to their loved ones and the community at large. Able-bodied men who could be making significant contributions to the process of nation building instead turn to hard drugs, and we lose them.

Nduka Augustine, the officer in charge of sensitization for the NDLEA’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, praised NACAT for educating locals on the risks associated with drug use, drug trafficking, and drug resale.

According to him, Mohamed Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, has kindly acknowledged that the government cannot win the fight against drug abuse on its own.

In light of the agency’s mission to educate the public about the risks associated with drug abuse and trafficking, “he is pleased when organisations take the initiative to collaborate with the agency.”