The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has made significant progress in dismantling drug trafficking syndicates that recruit and exploit women for illegal drug operations across Nigeria.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting the NDLEA’s commitment to targeting not only drug couriers but also the masterminds behind the criminal networks.
According to Babafemi, the agency goes beyond arresting traffickers and drug mules by tracing the chain of command to identify and prosecute those who recruit women and other vulnerable groups into illicit drug activities.
“We don’t just stop at the level of the traffickers or the mules. We follow the chain to the top of the ladder to ensure that the big masterminds hiding behind various fronts to recruit women and vulnerable groups into these activities are brought to book,” he said.
He noted that several investigations involving women used in drug trafficking operations have led to the arrest and prosecution of syndicate leaders responsible for coordinating the illegal trade.
Babafemi added that the agency combines enforcement actions with preventive measures aimed at discouraging women from becoming involved in drug-related crimes.
However, he acknowledged that cultural and religious factors sometimes limit the agency’s sensitization efforts, making it difficult to directly engage certain groups of women during awareness campaigns.
Despite these challenges, the NDLEA reaffirmed its determination to intensify the fight against drug trafficking networks while expanding public education initiatives to protect women and other vulnerable groups from exploitation by criminal organisations.
