The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in collaboration with pro-democracy group, Network Against Corruption and Trafficking, has exposed a community in Abuja, where hard drugs are sold like normal food items.

NDLEA and NACAT have also carried out a sensitization exercise against the use of hard drugs in the community known as Abattoir in Abuja.

The sensitization came on the heels of an investigation carried out by NACAT, where the group discovered that Abattoir, located close to an animal Market in the Karu axis of Abuja by the boundary between the FCT and Nassarwa State, is a major hub for the sales of illicit drugs like Crack, Codeine, Molly, Tramadol, Refnol, Rochi, Arizona, Loud (Canadian and Ghanaian loud).

During a road-walk in the community, the Abuja Command of the NDLEA displayed various banners and placards that read, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Do Drugs,” “Spot the sign, break the chain,” “Your Potential is Limitless Without Drugs,” “Love Yourself: Break Free from Substance Abuse,” “Say no to drug trafficking,” among others.

NACAT Operational Manager Stanley Ugagbe, who addressed newsmen during the sanitisation, cited Section 11, Part II of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, which prohibits anyone without any lawful authority from importing, manufacturing, producing, processing, planting, or growing drugs like cocaine, LSD, heroin, or any form of illegal drugs, and warned the residents of the area against the use of hard drags.

Ugagbe said “Acting upon a scoop, we conducted a clandestine investigation and uncovered how hard drugs are sold in broad daylight in this area, and that is why, as a group that is committed to the fight against drug trafficking, we are here today to sensitise the people against the gross implications of hard drugs”.

“There are so many legitimate businesses you can do to make a living in this country,” he said while warning dealers to engage themselves in meaningful businesses

On his part, NDLEA FCT Command’s officer in charge of sensitization, Nduka Augustine, lauded NACAT for the campaign against the dangers of getting involved in drug use, drug trafficking and drug peddling.