What are function of ndlea?
Functions Of NDLEA & Roles In Nigeria. The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a federal law enforcement agency in Nigeria. The drug enforcement agency was established on January 1, 1990, by Decree number 48. Decree number 48 is now known as the Act of Parliament.
The Act’s aim is to combat drug smuggling, trafficking, and use within Nigeria and around its borders. At the time, there was a rapidly growing availability of drugs and trafficking in the country. These concerns ushered in the signing of the NDLEA act.
What exactly are the roles of NDLEA in Preventing Drug Abuse In Nigeria?
The Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency is tasked with the following:
The primary task of the NDLEA is to enact measures to stop the movement of drugs within and around the borders of the country.
The agency is responsible for coordinating the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all offenses related to the trafficking of drugs. There are other drug units outside the NDLEA with similar responsibilities.
These peripheral institutions work hand in hand with the NDLEA and are responsible to the Agency in the performance of their duties.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s jurisdiction is usually within Nigeria. However, they do have some international obligations. They are responsible for pursuing and coordinating Nigerian drug investigations both domestically and abroad.
They are to work with international drug units in several matters of enforcing drug laws and suppressing international activities of illicit traffic.
Sometimes, it requires the effort of several drug agencies from different countries to perform operations in the arrest investigation, and prosecution of drug-related offenses.
The NDLEA also keeps a tab on the financial flow of Drug trafficking. They are tasked with identifying financial proceeds accrued through drug-related offenses, investigate and confiscate such proceeds.
The very backbone of illegal and illicit drug trafficking is money. Without any financial muscle, most drug-related offenses can’t be executed. For this reason, perhaps, the NDLEA’s most pertinent function is to mop up as much money as possible from trafficking and illegal drug-related activities.
The Agency’s function sometimes is as simple as starting from the top of the chain:
Eradication of illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and substances.
They also try to stifle the demand for these narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The agency’s statutory obligations aren’t limited to just enforcement. They are also obliged to continually tweak eradication measures of drug-related activities to improve effectiveness.
Drug trafficking and its participants are always looking for an edge and their activities are never static. It becomes important for the NDLEA to also be dynamic with its activities and processes.
This ties into the role mentioned above.
The agency acts as a unit of research and hub of scientific and technical information geared towards the eradication of illegal use of narcotic drugs and substances. Psychotropic substances are always being adapted to form new illegal substances and the NDLEA has a role to play in researching and gathering these activities.
Drug abuse is usually as a result of legitimately-manufactured substances being used unintendedly and turned into illicit drug traffic. Depressants, stimulants, and analgesics are often suspected of dependence and abuse.
The goal of the agency’s research and technical information is to gather intelligence regularly on these activities. It’s often a thin line to walk. The agency must make sure these ‘controlled substances’ are readily available for medical use, while also preventing abuse and illicit distribution.
The research and information help to uncover suspected sources of diversion and take civil actions.
The federal drug enforcement agency destroys and disposes of seized drugs in a timely fashion.
It’s their duty to ensure illicit drugs confiscated and captured are contained.
There are international Conventions on Illegal drugs like the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic.
These conventions and protocols were set in place to mitigate the magnitude of the traffic of narcotic drugs.
The NDLEA has a duty to supplement the measures stipulated by these conventions within its jurisdiction and beyond as necessary.
Anyone being suspected of being involved in drug-related offenses are to be identified and investigated under the purview of the drug act.
These are some of the most important roles of the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agencies.
Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency State Branches
This article has covered some of the pertinent functions of the NDLEA. If you have any questions or clarification on some of the functions of the federal agency please let us know in the comment section below.
That’s all about Functions Of NDLEA In Nigeria & Roles Of NDLEA In Preventing Drug Abuse In Nigeria.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a federal law enforcement agency in Nigeria under the Federal Ministry of Justice charged with eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs. The agency was established by Decree Number 48 of 1989. The NDLEA is present in international airports, seaports, and border crossings. The NDLEA also targets the leaders of narcotics and money laundering organizations.
The NDLEA was established by the promulgation of decree no.48 of 29th, December 1989, now an act of parliament whose major target was aimed at exterminating illicit drug trafficking and consumption.
Former Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, described illicit drugs as "alien" to Nigeria. Cannabis, locally grown in most states, was introduced to the country by foreigners. Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Country Representative to Nigeria, said that according to a new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2021, 14.4 per cent of Nigerians are presently engaged in drug abuse.
Also, Nigeria was one of the largest cannabis growers in Africa, with over 8% of the population using cannabis. Annual cannabis seizures increased from 126 metric tonnes in 2005 to 210 metric tonnes in 2007.
The NDLEA describes the southwest region of Nigeria as one of the main centers of illicit drug production in the country. 196.5 acres (0.795 km2) of cannabis farmland was discovered and destroyed in the region in 2008. In particular, Edo State has the highest rate of seizure of cannabis in the country. In April 2009, the NDLEA confiscated 6.5 tonnes of marijuana from the home of a man in Ogun State who claimed to be 114 years old. In September 2009 the NDLEA reported destroying a 24 hectare cannabis plantation in a forest reserve in Osun State.
In January 2009, the NDLEA publicly burned 5,605.45 kilograms of drugs seized from traffickers in Badagry, Lagos. The bonfire included 376.45 kilograms of cocaine, 71.46 kilograms of heroin and 5,157.56 tonnes of cannabis. in 2015
The United States donated full body scanning machines for the Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt international airports and provided security training and orientation airport officers. The machines have proved effective in catching smugglers and couriers taking cocaine from Latin America to Europe by way of Nigeria. Between 2006 and June 2008 over 12,663 suspected drug dealers were arrested, with seizure of over 418.8 metric tonnes of various hard drugs. For example, in July 2009 a woman about to board a KLM flight at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport was arrested by NDLEA officers and later excreted 42 wraps of cocaine, weighing 585 grams. In September 2009, the NDLEA arrested a Guinean woman en route from Brazil to Europe with 6.350 kg of pure cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.
In 2008 Nigeria was certified by the United States in the anti-narcotic crusade for the eight successive time. President George Bush said that Nigeria had made significant progress in counter narcotics and had effectively co-operated with the United States on drug-related and money laundering cases. In Katsina State, 100 people were convicted for drug offences from January to May 2008, and 358 people were arrested for drug offences in the same period.
Speaking of efforts to go after the organizers of the trade, Ahmadu Giade said the agency had seized N270 million worth of shares from drug barons, as well as cars, houses and other property worth hundreds of millions of naira.
After a September 2009 meeting with the head of the Nigerian Immigration Service to discuss exchange of biometric data of convicted drug barons and traffickers, Giade said cooperation between the agencies would help deny passports to convicted drug barons.
The U.S. Department of State noted that there have been credible allegations of drug-related corruption at the NDLEA. In late November 2005 NDLEA Chairman Bello Lafiaji was dismissed by President Olusegun Obasanjo due to allegations of corruption and replaced by Ahmadu Giade.
Lafiaji’s continued anti-narcotic efforts made him a target of drug barons as was evidenced in their connivance with some third party to frame him in 2005.
Lafiaji was convicted on June 21, 2010, of conspiracy and conversion of 164,300 euros seized from a drug suspect in November 2005 when he was the Chairman of the NDLEA. He was sentenced to four years in prison together with his personal assistant. They were investigated by Nigeria’s Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission.
Lafiaji appealed his conviction and on November 22, 2011, a three-judge panel of Nigeria’s Court of Appeal in Lagos unanimously overturned his conviction, holding that the prosecution failed to prove its cases beyond reasonable doubt. Lafiaji was therefore discharged and acquitted by the appellate court.
In June 2003 the National Committee for the Reform of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency issued a report that identified a cartel of senior NDLEA members which had arranged the release of 197 convicted drug barons and couriers between 2005 and 2006, and recommended prosecution of these official.
NDLEA is in charge of drug policy and control in Nigeria. Within this purview, the Agency has the mandate to curtail illicit production, importation, exportation, sale and trafficking of psychoactive substances. Employees of NDLEA carry out interdiction and destruction of narcotic drugs and other illicit substances.
What are the functions of NDLEA in Nigeria?
Many countries in the world are grappling with problems of drug abuse and drug trafficking. Different countries have different ways of managing this crisis.
In Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has been set up in order to take charge of drug issues.
In this blog post, we are going to be looking at the functions, seven same functions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The full meaning of NDLEA is National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
This is an agency that has been established by the Nigerian government since 1989.
There is an Act that gives the legal backing to it. The first Act was promulgated in 1989, known as Act number 48.
It has subsequently undergone some amendments in 1999, 1992, 1995, and finally in 1999.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is an agency to deal with issues surrounding drug abuse, drug trafficking and other drug related offences in Nigeria.
So they perform their functions within the scope of this mandate.
The agency currently has as its Chairman, Mohammed Buba Marwa, a Retired Brigadier General.
We will now look at 18 functions this agency in Nigeria.
1) The enforcement and the due administration of the provisions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act
2) The coordination of all drug laws and enforcement functions conferred on any person or authority, including Ministers in the Government of the Federation, by any such law
3) Adoption of measures to identify, trace, freeze, confiscate or seize proceeds derivedfrom drug-related offences or property whose value corresponds to such proceeds
4) Adoption of measures to eradicate illicit cultivation of narcotic plants and toeliminate illicit demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with a viewto reducing human suffering and eliminating financial incentives for illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
5) Taking such measures which might require the taking of reasonable precautions to prevent the use of ordinary means of transport for illicit traffic in narcotic drugsincluding making special arrangements with transport owners.
6) Adoption of measures which shall include coordinated preventive and repressiveaction.
7) Introduction and maintenance of investigative and control techniques.
8) Adoption of measures to increase the effectiveness of eradication efforts.
9) The facilitation of rapid exchange of scientific and technical information and the conduct of research geared towards eradication of illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
10) Taking measures for the early destruction or disposal of the narcotic drugs andpsychotropic substances which have been seized, confiscated or forfeitedFacilitation or encouragement of the presence or availability of persons, including persons in custody who consent to assist in investigations or participate in proceedings relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
11) Enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement to suppress illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
12) Establishing, maintaining and securing communication to facilitate the rapidexchange of information concerning offices and improving international co-operation in the suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance by road, sea and air.
13) Reinforcing and supplementing the measures provided in the convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the United Nations Convention Against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and its grave consequences.
14) Taking such measures that may ensure the elimination and prevention of the rootcauses of the problems of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
15) Strengthening and enhancing effective legal means for international co-operation in criminal matters for suppressing the international activities of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
16) Collaborating with government bodies both within and outside Nigeria carrying on functions wholly or in part analogous to those of the Agency concerning amongst others:
i. The identities, whereabouts and activities of persons suspected beinginvolved in offences mentioned in this Act;
ii. The movement of proceeds or property derived from the commission ofsuch offences
iii. The movement of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances specified inthe second schedule to this Act, and instrumentalities used or intended foruse in the commission of such offences
iv. the exchange of personnel and other experts
v. The establishment and maintenance of a system for monitoring internationaldealings in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in order to identifysuspicious transactions and persons engaged in them.
17) Taking charge, supervising, controlling, coordinating all the responsibilities,functions and activities relating to arrest, investigation and prosecution of all offencesconnected with or relating to illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
18) Strengthening cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the police force, customs agencies, immigrations agencies, welfare officials, health officials, and other law enforcement agencies in the eradication of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
So we are going to summarize the functions of NDLEA as follows:
1) They enforce the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
2) They identify, trace, arrest, as well as prosecute people that are involved in illicit drug activities, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
3) They make sure that people that are convicted of drug related offenses lose whatever properties or money they have made from drug-related offences in Nigeria
4) They destroy illicit drugs.
5) They collaborate with international agencies that are also involved in fight against drug trafficking and drug related offenses.
6) They also collaborate with other government agencies within and outside Nigeria to make sure that people with drug offenses are actually caught.
Some of these agencies include National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Customs.
NDLEA also work at the airports, the borders where people come in and leave the country because these are potential places where people can carry illicit drugs into Nigeria.
The impact of illicit drugs is quite alarming, even on a global scale.
However, NDLEA has recorded some successes in the fight against drug trafficking.
Some achievements include:
1) The agency has attended to over 12,000 people with drug issues.
2) Establishment of a toll-free number for people with drug abuse and other related issues to call for counseling and therapy.
3) Several arrests, seizing of drugs and prosecution of drug traffickers.
When it comes to drug trafficking and drug abuse, punishment or improvement alone may not completely bring the situation under control. There are some who are involved in this out of compulsion.
Some of them no longer wish to continue with this act. Some of them have also seen the bad effects of drug trafficking and they now want to quit.
This is where rehabilitation programs come in, in order to help these ones quit a lifestyle of drugs, be useful to themselves, their families and societies.
They can also be trained to do meaningful manual and skilled work.
NDLEA has up to 26 treatment centres across Nigeria. These centres offer counseling, treatment and rehabilitation services to those with drug issues.
In June 2022, the agency introduced a Call Centre where people with drug issues can call in and get attended to by health, psychology and psychiatry experts, among others.
The agency also said it plans to set up 6 standard rehabilitation centres across Nigeria. This will mean one center per geopolitical zone of the country.
Top on the list is security of its operatives. The Director-General has said personnel of the agency are being targeted by people who have been affected by their anti-drug drive and prosecution.
we’ve seen the functions the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency takes on in Nigeria. So these functions are actually quite enormous and it’s something that they should our hands need to be on deck in order to help the agency to rid of drug and every illegal thing within the country. Thank you.
Here in this article,jwe bring you 6 functions of the Nigerian drug law enforcement agency and role in preventing drug abuse.
NDLEA, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a federal agency, and it is more or less a law enforcement agency in Nigeria.
This federal agency was established sometime in 1990, that is, January 1, to be precise. And was established by Degree No 48.
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The Degree 48, by which, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency was established is referred to as the Act of Parliament. What was the objective of this Act?
One may ask, the main purpose of the Act was to empower the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency to combat drug smuggling, and drug trafficking, and use of drug within the country, as well as, around Nigeria’s borders.
However, before this time, there was so much drug activities in the country, ranging from drug use to drug trafficking, and as a result, this did became a thing of concern to the Nigerian government hence, the government did not have any other choice than to sign the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act.
Interestingly, in this article, we are going to look at some of the functions assigned to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, when it was established. Also we will briefly consider the role of the Agency in preventing drug abuse in Nigeria.
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The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency was established to perform specific functions in order to combat drug trafficking and drug smuggling, as well as, the use of drug within Nigeria. Having said that, there are other functions assigned to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency. In this article however, I will be discussing some of these functions. Below are some of them anywhere:
Prevention of illicit trafficking of hard drugs, such as, the narcotic drug was one of the functions assigned to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
So the primary responsibility of thejNigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency was to make sure that it enact some measures for the purpose of stopping drugs movement within and around the Nigeria’s borders.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency was expected to monitor with a view to stop any drugs business in the country, whether in form of smuggling or trafficking or in the case of drug use. Interestingly, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has worked to achieve the above.
Another function of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has been in the area of taking responsibility in coordinating the arrest and investigation, as well as, prosecution of everyone considered drug dealer in the country.
So all offenses that have to do with drug trafficking or any kind of drug movement was to be arrested and prosecuted by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency. functions of NDLEA
However, besides the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, there are some other drug departments, that are out the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, whose functions are almost similar with that of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
They do work side by side with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and are accountable to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency in performing their functions.
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The jurisdiction of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency is always within the Nigerian borders. Besides this however, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, in most case, do undertakes international obligations.
The Agency is in charge of pursuing, and at the same time, coordinating Drug investigation, both in Nigeria and in abroad.www.cdfipb.careers Civil Defence
While enforcing drug laws, the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency can work with the international drug departments in various matters, as well as, suppressed international business in illicit trafficking.
Another function of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency is to make sure that, it monitor and track on the financial flow of drug businesses.
It is incumbent of the part of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency to identify financial proceeds that accrued via drug related businesses and offenses, as well as, investigate and confiscate such financial proceeds.
The real issue about illegal and illicit drug business is money. Aside from this financial muscle, some of the offenses that have to do with drug trafficking would be difficult to execute.
That is why, one of the key functions of the Agency is to make sure that it mop up quite enough financial proceeds from illegal and illicit drug trafficking.
Most cases, it is advisable that the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency start its duties from the top of the chain.
It is one of the functions of the Agency to make sure that, it eradicate illicit cultivation of narcotic plants as well as, those other substances.
More so, it is incumbent on the part of the Agency to ensure that, the demands for narcotic drug and psychotropic substances are stifled. Dollar to Naira Today
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The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s functions is not limited to law enforcement, its function also include its obligation in making sure that, it continues in tweaking the eradication machinery of drug related business for the purpose of improving effectiveness.
It is true that, in drug trafficking business, their participants and dealers are not static, they are always on the look for an edge that is why the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency must be dynamic in its duties and processes.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency played a sensible role in trying to stop drug abuse in Nigeria. It is actually part of what I have been explaining in this article.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has acted as a department research and a unit of hub of scientific and technical information working towards making sure that, illegal use of illicit and narcotic drug, and other substances, such as, psychotropic substances are eradicated from the Nigerian society.
However, sometimes, the psychotropic substances are being adapted for the purpose of forming fresh or new illegal substances.
And this is why the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has this role to play. Therefore, it is the obligation of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency to research and gather these activities.
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The primary task of the NDLEA is to regularly find measures and means of finding out drug-related crimes which are the cultivation, trading and use of narcotic drugs and substances.
Though a federal agency, the agency has international obligations. Its role is to oversee all drug-related affairs both within and outside Nigeria and enforce international drug laws. FRSC Recruitment portal
The NDLEA educates the public on the narcotic substances; dangers and abuse. They patrol public places such as seaports, airports, and borders to prevent the importation and exportation of hard drugs.
The agency serves as a technical and scientific unit in studies and experiments related to the use of narcotic substances. Since new substances are being adapted to form illegal substances, the NDLEA has a leading role to play in gathering these activities.
The Agency was established with an Act of Parliament. What was the objective of this Act? One may ask, the main purpose of the Act was to empower the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency to combat drug smuggling, and drug trafficking, and use of drug within the country, as well as, around Nigeria’s borders.
