Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the judiciary has remained a dependable partner in the fight against illicit drugs, noting that the NDLEA currently records a conviction rate of almost 90 per cent in cases it prosecutes.
Despite the high conviction rate, Babafemi said the availability of fines as an alternative to prison sentences remains a significant setback because it allows convicted traffickers to regain their freedom and potentially return to the illegal drug business.
“There is a small nag there and that is the issue of the option of fine, and we are very grateful that the Federal Government through the office of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is addressing that.
“I think there is an executive bill which will soon get to the national assembly to amend the law so that there will be no that option of fine.
“Because they know that there is a loophole for an option of fine, the judge gives an option of fine, then you find them paying there whether 5 million, 10 million, 20 million.
“But that I believe is being addressed at the moment and when that law is passed then there will be nothing like that, you will have probably a minimum of 15 then 25 years in prison so that you know that when you are arrested you are going to jail and then you lose everything,” Babafemi said.
He explained that the proposed amendment, being driven through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, is intended to replace the fine option with mandatory prison sentences of between 15 and 25 years for convicted traffickers.
According to him, the reform is designed to ensure that offenders serve jail terms instead of paying fines and returning to criminal activities.
Babafemi described the global drug trade as a complex and persistent challenge but said the NDLEA has continued to intensify its operations, leading to major breakthroughs across the country.
He stated that the agency’s sustained enforcement actions have significantly reduced the supply of illicit drugs, resulting in shortages and a sharp increase in their street prices.
To illustrate the impact of the crackdown, Babafemi said some drug users have openly complained online about the rising cost of narcotics.
“If you follow some of the conversations online, you will hear young people complaining, ‘Why are you people always seizing these things? Now because of what you are doing, a gram of cana has moved from N5,000 to N35,000.’”
The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that recent investigations have uncovered billions of naira in bank accounts linked to suspected drug traffickers. He said the accounts have been frozen while legal processes are underway to secure the forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.
He added that Nigeria has become an increasingly difficult operating environment for drug trafficking networks, forcing many suspects to relocate abroad in an attempt to evade arrest.
Nevertheless, Babafemi said the agency is working closely with law enforcement partners in other countries to track the fleeing suspects, monitor their activities, and ensure they are brought to justice.