The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that it is not comfortable with options of fines being accorded drug traffickers and their agents in the country but strict imprisonment that would deter others from the heinous crimes.
The agency explained that experience has shown that options of fines in place of outright imprisonment has not dettered drug traffickers from the heinous crimes, hence, the increase in the case of illicit substance abuse.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig- Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd) who made this case on Tuesday in Abuja, pleaded with the Chief Judge and Judges of the Federal High Court to always consider strict imprisonment for drug offenders who do not deserve mercy of the law.
The NDLEA boss spoke at the unveiling of the National Minimum Standards on the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of the 36 states.
At the moment, Marwa revealed that Nigeria has over 10 million cannabis users, which according to him, was very worrisome.
In the past five years, he said, the agency made a seizure of about 15 million kilograms of assorted illicit substance out of which, between 70 to 75 percent was cannabis.
The worrisome situation, he said forced NDLEA to meet cannabis growers, especially in Ondo state to enlighten them to stop growing indian hemps and embrace legitimate growing of food and cash crops that would make life meaningful for them and others.
He noted with satisfaction that the efforts have been yielding fruitful results with positive response from the fields.
Marwa said, hundreds of farmers opting out of cannabis growing would not only have sustainable means of legitimate livelihoods but would no longer live with fears of possible arrest and prosecution by the NDLEA.
He thanked the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for quick responses to NDLEA issues as well as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
END
Comments