…says it Indian hemp not cocaine
A Non Governmental Organisation, Better, Brighter Nigeria and Societal Enlightenment, has condemned the burning of alleged 1,828 blocks of cocaine by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
It would be recalled that in a well celebrated press briefing, the NDLEA burnt 1,828 blocks of cocaine in Lagos.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Muyiwa Jacob Olatunji, the group condemned the action of the NDLEA, saying “without tendering exhibits in Court and showing the actual content to the public of what it actually seized in Ikorodu, Lagos, two weeks ago, the agency burnt the much celebrated things alleged to be cocaine.
The group explained that: “Many have said is SK Indian hemp package in this form normally brought in mass quantities through Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki water from Ghana to Nigeria.”
The group accused the NDLEA of rushing “to burn the exhibits without showing anybody because they know it’s not Cocaine but SK Indian hemp which is sold for 5000 naira per package not Cocaine that is millions of naira per single package.
“The NDLEA had seized what it called the biggest Cocaine recovery in Nigeria without showing to the public as usual if it was cocaine or not. It refused journalists to interview the paraded suspects to corroborate what the Agency was saying it recovered.
“Normally in such type of Press Briefing done by NDLEA, if it’s genuine some packages will be picked at random from the alleged huge quantity of cocaine and it will be opened for the journalist and members of the public to see.
“Since then, the NDLEA has not said anything. The Journalists did not know the actual content of what the Agency seized. They were also not allowed to openly interview the alleged suspects.”
The statement stressed that: “Instead, the NDLEA gathered over 200 tires to burn the alleged cocaine. The tricks used by the NDLEA is that by using many tires to burn the alleged cocaine, it is to ensure that the stench from the SK Indian hemp is not perceived by the people.
“We make bold to state strongly that our internal investigation uncovered deliberate lies from the NDLEA. What was actually seized was not Cocaine but SK Indian Hemp, packaged and sent to Nigeria from Ghana through the Ikorodu water ways.
The group noted that: “We state that, for the fact that NDLEA that is always in the media in desperation to show everything to the press and public, but this time around refused to open any of the alleged 1,828 blocks of cocaine packages it said it seized from the alleged suspects during a press briefing where suspects and exhibits were paraded is a confirmation that its a deliberate act of deception to hoodwink members of the public that it is working.
“As partners in the war against drugs, we have been monitoring NDLEA’s activities and it’s been disappointing. No real war on drugs is taking place,” the group insisted.
Continuing, it noted that, “The latest development is a setback in the war against drugs. The NDLEA cannot seize hard drugs and burn them without tendering the same before the court or showing its content to the public during her press briefing.
“In any case, what would the NDLEA use as an exhibit in court since the packages have been burnt in haste to prevent investigators from the National Assembly and other bodies because a lot of questions are being raised about the way NDLEA is hiding the truth from Nigerians.”
The group, however, pledged its total support to the NDLEA to enable it succeed in its war against hard drugs in the country. “While we will continue to support the NDLEA and other security agencies and collaborate with it in the war against hard drugs and other crimes, we must also call for transparency and accountability in the management of the fight on drugs and crimes.
“We can’t allow such monumental deception to be successfully executed before our eyes against Nigerians,” the group said.
However, during the burning of the huge quantity of Cocaine by the NDLEA at a well celebrated press briefing in Lagos, it explained that: “Out of the 1.8-ton seizure, 1,828 blocks of cocaine were set ablaze while the remnants were secured for the purpose of prosecution of the suspects.
“The five suspects were brought to the scene as witnesses and made to sign the certificate of destruction.”
