link between proceeds from sales of illicit drugs and the funding of terrorist organisations.
They warned that the trend portended a serious threat to global peace, if it continued unchecked.
They also protested against the demand for the legalisation of some drugs, which do not serve medicinal and scientific purposes in Nigeria, saying such measures would worsen the tempo of social vices to which youths had been plunged in recent times.
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime made the submission during the public presentation of the report of the 2012 International Narcotics Control Board.
The agencies also called for the strengthening of legislations and public enlightenment campaigns in the war against illicit drugs in Nigeria.
In her review of the report, the UNODC Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Mariam Sissoko, said West Africa had continued to remain a transit area for the trafficking of cocaine from South America to European markets.
She said, “Cocaine trafficking is estimated to generate nearly $900m in profit annually for criminal networks targeting West Africa.”
In his keynote address, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, said adoption of effective drug control policies would prevent premature deaths resulting from drug addiction.
He said, “Some major ares of concern to drug control experts are the link between drug use and crime and the threat of funding terrorist organisations with proceeds from illicit drugs. These constitute a serious danger to global peace.
“I urge all nations to aggressively pursue drug supply control as well as public enlightenment programmes. We must continue to think ahead of drug barons and adopt effective counter drug trafficking measures. Existing legal frameworks must equally be strengthened.”
According to the NDLEA boss, the Federal Government’s determination to prevent the incursion of foreign cartels into the country is yielding results with the arrest of three Bolivians and a Colombian in connection with clandestine laboratories used for methamphetamine production in Nigeria.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said, “The criminalisation of issues relating to drug abuse has increased the public health and security threats posed by the menace of drug abuse.”
