The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and a civil society group, the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative, have pledged to intensify the seizure of assets linked to drug trafficking and properties used to harbor drug dealers across Lagos State.
This was revealed in a statement by the founder and president of ECAPI, Sam Adams, on Tuesday and obtained by Chronicle NG.
According to him, the promise was made on Saturday during a massive anti-drug advocacy campaign organized by the Lagos State Strategic Command of the NDLEA in collaboration with ECAPI, as the agencies took their sensitization drive to major drug-prone areas of the state.
“Drugs are destroying lives, health, dreams, and even the economy. We are declaring zero tolerance. Landlords who allow their properties to be used for drug sales should know that such assets risk forfeiture.
“The advocacy walk commenced from Maryland, passed through Mushin, Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Costain, and Lagos Island, with NDLEA officers and ECAPI volunteers engaging residents, youths, and suspected drug users in multiple local languages,” he stated.
He also announced intentions to expand the anti-drug advocacy campaign to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, noting that ECAPI would continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to maintain momentum.
Adams praised the engagement with the NDLEA as fruitful, stating that such partnerships have been extended to other security and anti-graft agencies.
According to the statement, during the sensitization, Lagos State NDLEA Commander Abubakar Wali stated that the agency was strengthening its enforcement strategy by focusing on the recovery of drug-related proceeds.
He emphasized that houses used to house drug dealers would no longer be spared and that asset forfeiture was an effective deterrent in the fight against illegal substances.
Wali also stated that the agency was putting a renewed emphasis on prevention and community reorientation, calling the street sensitization exercise an important component of the drug battle.
“Our fight is no longer limited to arrests and prosecution. We are now targeting the assets and proceeds of crime. In Lagos, we have seized monies, hotels, houses, and other properties linked to drug activities and returned them to government coffers.”
“This road walk is not just symbolic. It shows our resolve to confront drug abuse and trafficking head-on. Drugs destroy lives, families, and the future of our youths,” he stated.
Experts have frequently urged individuals in society to join the fight against drug abuse, emphasizing the importance of communal responsibility in eradicating the problem.
