The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians In Disapora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) needs to do more to educate Nigerians on dangers of trafficking in drugs in their countries of residence.
Dabiri stated this on an AIT interview programme anchored by Gbenga Aleruba recently.
Sources revealed that hundreds of Nigerians are detained in prisons in countries abroad for drug related offences.
It is said 73 Nigerians are on death row in Malaysia in Southeast Asia convicted of drug related offences in that country.
In Sao Paulo, Brazil, a total of 144 Nigerians are serving various prison terms for offences related with drug trafficking.
In Thailand, a total of 650 Nigerians are also serving various prison terms following their conviction in that country for also offences related to drug trafficking.
The Rivers State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said in an interview it was working to reduce sale and consumption of dangerous drugs in Nigeria.
An official of NDLEA of Rivers State Command, Emmanuel Ogbumgbada, had said the agency also works with foreign embassies in Nigeria to ensure those wishing to travel abroad have clean record and would not engage in drug trafficking when they travel overseas.
He had said those who commit violent crimes were on drugs which help them to commit the crimes.
He said criminals “cannot do these violent activities without taking drugs. No way!”saying NDLEA came into existence to primarily remove dangerous drugs from circulation and arrest drug dealers and reduce demand for and consumption of dangerous drugs in society.
He had said that NDLEA investigates and prosecutes those arrested for drug-related offences and if found guilty, they would be sent to jail saying that the agency also investigates assets of drug dealers.
Ogbumgbada said: “We investigate their assets. Now for anybody that is doing drugs and we are able to link that he procured those assets from the proceeds of drug dealing, we also put in across to the court and apply for forfeiture of those assets be it houses, land, vehicles, whatever and his assets will be forfeited to the federal government”.
