The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and a civil society group, the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative, have vowed to intensify the seizure of assets linked to drug trafficking and properties used to harbour drug dealers across Lagos State.
This was contained in a statement by the founder and president of ECAPI, Sam Adams, on Tuesday and obtained by Metro.
According to him, the vow was made on Saturday during a massive anti-drug advocacy campaign organised by the Lagos State Strategic Command of the NDLEA in collaboration with ECAPI, as the agencies took their sensitisation 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 disclosed plans to expand the anti-drug advocacy campaign to all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that ECAPI would continue to work with law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum.
Adams described the partnership with the NDLEA as productive, noting that similar collaborations had been extended to other security and anti-graft agencies.
According to the statement, the Lagos State NDLEA Commander, Abubakar Wali, during the sensitisation, said the agency was strengthening its enforcement strategy by focusing on the recovery of proceeds of drug-related crimes.
He stressed that properties used to harbour drug dealers would no longer be spared, noting that asset forfeiture was a powerful deterrent in the fight against illicit drugs.
Wali added that the agency was placing renewed emphasis on prevention and community reorientation, describing the street sensitisation exercise as a critical component of the drug war.
“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 repeatedly called on individuals in society to join the fight against drug abuse, stressing that collective responsibility was essential to ending the menace.