The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has inaugurated special squads to curtail open sales and consumption of illicit drugs in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The Commander of Narcotics NDLEA, FCT Command, Kabiru Tsakuba, said this in an interview on Monday in Abuja.
Tsakuwa said the approach would be through dislodgement of notorious drug joints, arrest of drug dealers, seizure of drugs and prosecution of offenders.
According to him, the FCT was unique because it had an international airport where some flights come directly from drug source countries and others from East African countries where hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, could be accessed.
He said some may find their way into the town, in spite of the interdiction efforts of the NDLEA officers at the airport.
“The FCT, by its nature, has high-income localities interspersed with low-income slums where drug peddlers can take advantage to deal in drugs.
“There are individuals that can afford to buy any kind of drugs of their desire or choice without having to bother in any way.
“These, among many reasons, therefore, create veritable opportunities for drug peddlers, like in other cities of the world, to trade in these criminal substances.
“Having said this, it is important to note that the command has been trying its best to ensure a drug-free environment in the FCT,” Tsakuwa said.